Muhammad Ali Pate

Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Federal Republic of Nigeria, formerly Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership Harvard T.H. Chan Sch.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

It was great seeing the energy in my ward for @officialABAT re-election! Nigeria must move forward, despite these globally turbulent times.

[Abdulaziz Musa Said @aaziz_musa]

In a remarkable display of unity and political solidarity, @muhammadpate mobilized stakeholders and youths in a strong show of support for the re-election bid of @officialABAT at his ward, highlighting growing confidence in the President’s leadership and vision.

[Abdulaziz Musa Said @aaziz_musa]

In a remarkable display of unity and political solidarity, @muhammadpate mobilized stakeholders and youths in a strong show of support for the re-election bid of @officialABAT at his ward, highlighting growing confidence in the President’s leadership and vision.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

It was a pleasure to receive H.E. Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria @KSAembassyNG, at my office, alongside the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha @Ngfmld, and the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi @FmardNg and other @Fmohnigeria colleagues as we advance preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja from 28–30 June 2026.

This will be the first time the AMR Ministerial Conference is hosted on African soil, and Nigeria @officialABAT values Saudi Arabia’s continued partnership following its successful hosting of the 4th edition in Jeddah.

Our discussions focused on AMR, health security, One Health collaboration, and human resources for health, including ethical and managed health workforce mobility. Health security does not respect borders; our response must therefore be coordinated, practical, and anchored in shared responsibility.

The Ambassador also shared a personal story of his encounter with a Nigerian health professional who impressed him with his skills, exemplifying the latent capacity in our workforce. We look forward to strengthening cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in health workforce training, including approaches to managed migration where recipient countries support expanded domestic capacity.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚

As part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative #NHRSII and in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR (@officialABAT), to improve quality health outcomes and strengthen health system performance, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (@Fmohnigeria) has established a National Taskforce for Clinical Governance and Patient Safety.

The establishment of this Taskforce reflects a deliberate, system-wide effort to strengthen clinical standards, patient safety, accountability, and learning across public and private health facilities.

The Taskforce is oriented toward improvement, active learning, appropriate incentives, and capacity building across the health system, with emphasis on prevention and systems strengthening rather than blame or punitive action in the absence of proven negligence.

In this briefing from my desk, I outline the rationale, scope, and direction of the Taskforce, grounded in coordinated governance, prevention, and continuous improvement.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

Composition of the National Task Force

The membership of the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety comprises the following:
•Chair: Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
•Alternate Chair: Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, @SalakoIziaq, Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare,
•Daju S. Kachollom, mni – Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare;
•Secretary: Director, Department of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare;
•Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics;
•Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, @k_ohiri, Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority, @nhia_nigeria
•Dr. Banji Filani, @okeanaye, Chair, Forum of Honourable Commissioners of Health
•Prof. Fatima Kyari – Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (@MDCNOfficial)
•Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed – Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (@PCN_Registry)
•Alh. Ngagi Alhassan – Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (@NMC_Nigeria)
•Registrar, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (@MedLabNigeria)
•Prof. Bala Audu – President, Nigerian Medical Association (@nationalnma)
•Prof. Philip O. Abiodun – Chair, National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee
•Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, PhD @kemskis, Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State
•Prof. Gbenga Ogedegbe @GbengaOgedegbe, New York University School of Medicine (@nyuniversity)
•Prof. Chinyere Anyaogu @ChichiAnyaoguMD, NYC Health + Hospitals (@NYCHealthSystem)
•Prof. Joseph N. Ana – Centre for Clinical Governance Research and Patient Safety, Calabar
•Dr. Toyosi Okurounmu, @ToyosiMD, Medical Leadership and Clinical Performance, Atlanta
•Dr. Oranu Ibekie @oranuibekie, Indiana University School of Medicine (@IUMedSchool)
•Dr. Jide Menakaya @DrJideMenakaya, President, MANSAG (@MANSAG_uk)
•Dr. Sonny Isemede @sonnyisemede, Patient Safety Africa
•Representative, Guild of Medical Directors
•Representative, Society for Quality in Health Care in Nigeria
•Mrs. Moji Makanjuola @MakanjuolaMoji, Representative of Civil Society Organisations
•Representative, Association of General Medical Practitioners.

Other experts may be co-opted by the Task Force as required.

Members of the Task Force will contribute their expertise, experience, resources, and goodwill towards strengthening clinical governance and improving patient safety across the Nigerian health system.

Ends.
2/2.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON CLINICAL GOVERNANCE AND PATIENT SAFETY

In furtherance of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda @officialABAT, and in line with ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s health system, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (@Fmohnigeria) has established the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety.

The Task Force is established to support the development and operationalisation of sustainable clinical governance and patient safety structures, standards, and accountability mechanisms that improve health outcomes, enhance patient experience, and strengthen workforce performance across the Nigerian health system.

The National Task Force will serve as a strategic platform for integrating quality and patient safety into all aspects of health service delivery. This initiative aligns with global calls by the World Health Organization (@WHO), the World Bank (@WorldBank), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (@OECD), and The Lancet Global Health Commission (@TheLancet) for low- and middle-income countries to move beyond access alone and prioritise high-quality, people-centred care as the foundation of Universal Health Coverage (#UHC).

The work of the Task Force will contribute directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (@SDG2030), particularly SDG 3.8 on quality essential health services, and support the realisation of the objectives of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative #NHSRII (@SWApGov).

Mandate and Scope

In pursuit of its objectives, the National Task Force shall undertake actions that shift the paradigm toward improvement, active learning, behavioral incentives, and capacity building, away from blame games and punitive actions when there’s no proven negligence. Accordingly, the National Task Force shall:
•Conduct a national landscape analysis of clinical governance and patient safety in Nigeria
•Develop and standardise national clinical governance and patient safety frameworks, policies, and implementation guidance
•Strengthen systems for the prevention, reporting, learning, and response to adverse events and patient safety incidents
•Promote adherence to evidence-based clinical standards, protocols, and ethical practice across health facilities
•Institutionalise quality improvement and patient safety culture at facility, state, and national levels
•Support capacity building for health workers and managers on clinical governance, risk management, and patient safety
•Enhance patient and community engagement in quality and safety initiatives, including feedback and complaint mechanisms
•Establish national indicators and monitoring systems to track quality and patient safety performance
•Strengthen coordination among federal, state, regulatory, professional, and private sector stakeholders on quality and safety
•Uphold confidentiality and ethical handling of sensitive information, including patient safety incidents and facility performance data

1/2

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

Fellow Nigerians and friends around the world, good day.

Under the leadership of H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, @officialABAT, Nigeria’s population of over 240m continues to demonstrate a growing commitment to accessing quality health services and preventive tools that protect lives, reduce avoidable illness, and sustain productivity nationwide.

This progress is evidenced by measurable outcomes. In Q2 2024, health facilities nationwide recorded approx. 10m hospital visits. By Q2 2025, visits exceeded 45m, representing a more than fourfold increase and reflecting increased use of essential and life saving services, particularly immunization.

Once constrained by misinformation, distrust, and limited access, Nigeria’s youthful population is now achieving historic immunization coverage. Under this administration, over 25m measles doses and 22m yellow fever vaccinations have been administered, alongside Africa’s first Mpox vaccine rollout. In addition, five million children have received the pentavalent vaccine, over 10m the tetanus diphtheria vaccine through the nationwide diphtheria response, and more than 1m vaccines from the @gavi funded global stockpile have supported meningitis outbreak control in northern regions.

Nigeria @NigeriaGov has taken a historic step in malaria control with the introduction of its first ever malaria vaccine. As the country bearing the world’s highest malaria burden, accounting for approx. 39.3 percent of malaria related deaths among children under five, deployment of the R21 Matrix M vaccine marks a major public health milestone. With over 97 percent of Nigerians at risk, the vaccine complements existing interventions such as insecticide treated nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention. Rollout commenced in Bayelsa and Kebbi states, with Kebbi alone targeting 179,542 children aged five to fifteen months. Nigeria received 1m doses in total, including 846,200 from Gavi and 153,800 financed by the FG, with plans for further scale up.

Nigeria is no longer defined solely by disease burden but increasingly by leadership in domestic resource mobilization and global disease control efforts. In 2025, the FG committed 54m dollars in domestic resources to the global fight against TB @StopTB and emerged as the largest African contributor to @GlobalFund, as announced at the most recent G20 meeting in Johannesburg.

These gains are substantive. Sustained increases in health sector financing @Fmohnigeria across all levels of govt., covering primary infrastructure, workforce development, and vaccination campaigns, have reinforced global confidence in Nigeria as a provider of solutions. A further illustration is the drive to eliminate cervical cancer. Approx. 12,000 Nigerian women are diagnosed annually, yet the disease is preventable through early HPV vaccination. Since the Oct. 2023 launch across 15 states and the FCT, over 14m eligible girls aged 9 to 14 years have been vaccinated, representing more than 90 percent coverage.

These achievements reflect deliberate sectoral reform and strengthened coordination through the Sector Wide Approach @SWApGov, aligning all tiers of govt. with development partners and NGOs. Recently, formal approval was granted for an additional 68bn naira for vaccine financing and related requirements, with funds lodged at the @NPHCDA and scheduled for release.

The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu extends beyond economic reform and infrastructure investment. It is anchored in the development of the Nigerian person and the capacity of every citizen to live a healthy, productive, and dignified life. This administration remains committed to ensuring that preventable illness and avoidable death no longer constrain the full potential of the men and women who advance our nation.

Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

Fellow Nigerians and friends from around the world, good day to you all.

For decades, dedicated professionals in Nigeria’s health sector have risen early and returned home late, serving their fellow citizens with commitment and resilience, often in difficult conditions and with limited recognition.

Under the compassionate leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, we acknowledge that successive governments did not always provide the enabling environment for our best talents to thrive. Longstanding commitments were poorly implemented, leading to dissatisfaction among health workers, particularly members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.

This reality informed our deliberate approach over the past two and a half years, during which we proactively cultivated industrial harmony through constructive engagement with stakeholders, addressing both legacy and current challenges directly.

Despite recent disruptions by a small segment of health workers, notably resident doctors, the overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s capable health workforce have continued to report for duty, serving our people with dedication, care, and innovation.

While not all legacy challenges have been conclusively resolved, unprecedented progress has been achieved under President Tinubu’s leadership. Through transparent negotiations, the retirement age for clinically skilled health workers has been increased from 60 to 65 years. Outstanding arrears from 2023 to date have been paid, while the new hazard allowance is being processed.

Over ₦10 billion owed under the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund has been fully paid. Salary relativity adjustments under CONHESS for health workers and CONMESS for doctors are being assured and institutionalized by the federal government.

All other major and longstanding demands of the three main health sector union blocs are being addressed through Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, statutorily convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. This process, involving union leadership and relevant government officials, is well underway, and we remain committed to concluding it to the satisfaction of health workers and the citizens they serve.

Despite minor industrial distractions by a very small minority, with over 90% of demands already met, Nigerians continue to express confidence in the health workforce, and the data confirms this.

In the second quarter of 2024, Nigeria recorded an average of 10 million hospital visits across all levels of care. By the second quarter of 2025, this rose to nearly 40 million visits in a single quarter, representing almost a fourfold increase.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has reported a 52% reduction in foreign exchange accessed for external medical tourism since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023. At the same time, facilities nationwide are witnessing increased patronage by foreigners choosing to receive care in Nigeria.

Medical tourism is steadily being reversed, while citizen perception surveys from 2023 to 2025 show rising confidence in the health system. Overall system confidence stands at 55%, confidence in the government’s ability to manage health emergencies at 67%, and patient satisfaction at 74%.

As we continue building systems that serve all Nigerians regardless of status or income, we are healing a once-fractured ecosystem and restoring public trust. The progress of our health sector reflects what is possible for Nigeria: turning crisis into opportunity, transforming liabilities into assets, and placing every Nigerian at the center of our national renewal.

Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

N𝐚t𝐢o𝐧a𝐥 𝐇e𝐚l𝐭h F𝐞l𝐥o𝐰s P𝐫o𝐠r𝐚m: 𝐔r𝐠e𝐧t C𝐚l𝐥 𝐟o𝐫 𝐀p𝐩l𝐢c𝐚t𝐢o𝐧s

Earlier this year, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, we launched the National Health Fellows Program #NHF, a bold step towards building the next generation of healthcare leaders in Nigeria. From over 360,000 applications nationwide, 774 outstanding young Nigerians were meritoriously selected, and their collective impact has been remarkable across the 774 Local Government Areas @AlgonNationalHQ in Nigeria.

Applications for the second cohort of the National Health Fellowship Program will open on 1 November 2025 and close on 30 November 2025. I call on all passionate young Nigerians across various disciplines to take this opportunity.

For details of the application process, visit https://t.co/L1KII6Nsix
@Fmohnigeria @SWApGov @MDCNOfficial

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

Fellow Nigerians and friends from around the world, good day to you all.

Trust deficits between the governed and those who govern have long shaped our national story. Overcoming this requires public administrators across all tiers and branches of government @NigeriaGov to embrace accountability and transparency in managing the commonwealth of our people.

In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s @officialABAT Renewed Hope Agenda, we have begun the deliberate and necessary work of institutionalizing this approach in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare @Fmohnigeria and in the agencies under our oversight.

I am pleased to inform Nigerians that our ministry and its parastatals have entered into a multi-year pact with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission @ICPC to monitor, track, and audit expenditures involved in the nationwide overhaul of health infrastructure across all local government areas of the federation.

In the medical profession, prevention is better than cure. This principle applies equally to our new approach to addressing official corruption and financial misconduct in the health sector.

The primary objective of this pact with the ICPC is to institute preventive and corrective anti-corruption mechanisms, with particular emphasis on close surveillance of health parastatals and funding pathways under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund @TheBHCPF, which serves as a federal conduit to subnational entities responsible for the judicious use of resources.

As part of this partnership, state and local governments will be integrated into strengthened accountability processes to ensure standardized anti-corruption measures nationwide.

More specifically, the ICPC is mandated to report on the status of projects identified by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency @NphcdaNG as a prerequisite for final certification of project completion.

In real time, the ICPC will provide stage-by-stage monitoring of primary healthcare revitalization projects across all implementing states and local government areas to ensure value for money.

Additionally, our pact with the ICPC introduces a new certification process for anti-corruption training and capacity-building initiatives to support health sector staff in preventing and addressing corrupt practices within their mandates.

While these historic steps offer a sustainable template for fiscal prudence in the sector, we are simultaneously advancing a multi-dimensional strategy to confront the threat corruption poses to the health of every Nigerian.

We recognize the critical role of our youth in driving reforms at the community level. This recognition led to the recruitment and deployment of hundreds of Performance and Financial Management Officers (#PFMOs) across all local government areas to continuously assess primary health centre rehabilitation and operational performance.

This initiative complements President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commissioning of the National Health Fellows—774 young leaders from every local government area—selected through a rigorous process and prepared to sustain the new anti-corruption procedures aligned with their technical and administrative responsibilities.

This fight against long-standing development inhibitors in the health sector is essential not only for improving the lives of Nigerians but also for enhancing donor confidence, with direct implications for non-governmental and multilateral financial support for key health interventions for our nation.

This is our time to reclaim the nation we love, to reject what has held us back, and to affirm a new social contract grounded in integrity, renewed trust, and renewed hope.

Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

The Joint Annual Health sector wide Review #JAR2025 @SWApGov offers us opportunity to reflect on progress, identify gaps, learn from experience, and enhance our collective accountability for results.

The evidence presented gave an encouraging picture. 84% of national health performance indicators under the Presidential Bond have been achieved as of Q3 2025, representing 37 of 41 key targets. 35 states and the FCT have completed their State JARs with citizen participation, all aligned with the #NHSRII Blueprint. All 774 LGAs @AlgonNationalHQ now have National Health Fellows and Public Financial Management Officers in place. Ministerial oversight meetings have been held as scheduled, and 60% of National Council on Health resolutions have been implemented, showing that commitments are being translated into results.

Service utilisation and outcomes continue to improve. Visits to facilities supported through the #BHCPF rose from 10 million in Q1 2024 to 37 million in Q1 2025 and 45 million in Q2 2025, reflecting renewed confidence in primary care @NphcdaNG. Maternal deaths have declined by 17% and newborn deaths by 12% across 172 high-burden LGAs targeted through data-driven interventions. Skilled birth attendance now exceeds 90%, antenatal care coverage (#ANC4) remains above 50%, and new family planning acceptors have grown by 10% between Q1 and Q2 2025. Immunisation coverage has also strengthened, with national targets for measles, rubella, and #HPV vaccination achieved.

The foundations of the health system are being reinforced. 52% of targeted LGAs now have at least two level-two PHC facilities, and 435 have been revitalised. Over 15,000 community health workers have been recruited, nearly 70,000 frontline workers retrained toward the goal of 120,000 by 2027, and over 20,000 new staff deployed to federal tertiary hospitals. Health insurance coverage @nhia_nigeria has grown from 6–7% two years ago to 12% today, supported by the Mandatory Health Insurance Circular and the Vulnerable Groups Fund.

Public confidence in the health system is rising. Surveys from 2023–2025 show nearly half of Nigerians believe government considers their views in decision-making. 55% express confidence in the system’s direction, 67% in emergency response, and 74% report satisfaction with services. Two-thirds still emphasise affordability, a concern being addressed through the Medical Relief Programme and expanded social protection.

These gains are being consolidated through the Compact addendum, which reinforces collaboration across federal, state, local, private, and community levels. The localisation agenda continues to advance through domestic resource mobilisation, local manufacturing of medicines, vaccines, and health technologies, and stronger supply chains. Financing is diversifying through fiscal measures, public–private partnerships, and digital transparency tools, while the ward-based approach drives visible improvements at community level. With continued support from @nassnigeria and @NGRSenate, appropriations and releases are translating into measurable progress across the sector.

We acknowledge with deep appreciation the sustained collaboration of the economic management and fiscal policy leadership of @NigeriaGov, particularly the @FinMinNigeria, @PlanningNG, colleagues @Fmohnigeria, and the broad coalition of state and local authorities, traditional and religious institutions, development partners, and civil-society actors whose collective efforts continue to strengthen delivery across Nigeria’s health system.

Years from now, when the story of this period is written, the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at this defining moment in our national history will stand as one of its most consequential chapters.

All Hands, One Mission. Bringing Nigeria’s Health Sector to Light.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

@TrackaNG Your letter was received by the ministry in the evening of October 23 (Thursday) and immediately acted upon.

Relevant officers directed to respond fully to your request, which followed the government’s own public disclosure of the approval after the 12th MOC meeting held on October 22. You should hear from them and ultimately receive the full breakdown.

Before impulsively rushing to judge the quantum and distribution, take time to understand first and see the facts when shared with you by the Secretariat.

Our modest efforts to enhance transparency and accountability are not to play to any gallery, rather it is an attempt at fulfillment of responsibility of public service.

[Tracka @TrackaNG]

Dear @muhammadpate and @Fmohnigeria,

We have filed an FOI request with you on this ₦32.9bn third-round BHCP funding, following the Red Letter call for citizens' monitoring.

All things being equal, N50.6m per 774 LGAs or N4.9m per 8,000 facilities are mere speculative figures; Nigerians need to get the facts and figures to follow the money.

We are waiting to get a response from you soon.

#publicfundsmustworkforthegoodofthepeople
#askquestions

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

In furtherance of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, @officialABAT, Renewed Hope Agenda, and in line with our national commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (#UHC), I am pleased to provide an update on Nigeria’s progress in expanding access to quality and affordable health insurance.

Out-of-pocket payments remain the dominant source of health care expenditure for most of our people, translating into higher costs and lower standards of accountability for providers. When the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare @Fmohnigeria signed the Renewed Hope Ministerial Performance Monitoring Bond with its detailed key performance indicators, we set ambitious 2030 targets that are now within reach, one of which is national health insurance coverage.

Under the leadership of Mr President, all macroeconomic reform and cross-sectoral policy direction are driven by one objective: ensuring that every Nigerian can actualize their aspirations while accessing affordable, quality care. This people-centred approach defines the comprehensive reforms now reshaping our health sector.

As we modernize infrastructure across primary, secondary, and tertiary facilities in all local government areas, our record-breaking progress in national health insurance enrollment is aligning demand with Nigeria’s rapidly expanding supply of human resources and infrastructure.

Nearly 120,000 health workers have been trained since 2023, and 2,500 doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health extension workers have been recruited to strengthen frontline services. Over the past 16 months, 4,000 health personnel have also been added in Federal Tertiary Hospitals to close workforce gaps.

In 2024, Nigeria broke its enrollment record with more than 2.4m new people insured, bringing total coverage to about 20m Nigerians. With new policy tools in motion, we are on course to reach 44m by 2030. This is the surest path to reducing out-of-pocket expenditure, which still represents about 70% of total health spending.

Social health insurance schemes now account for 90% of all enrollments nationwide. A major constraint in care quality has been the low capitation fee for enrollees. For years, the capitation stood at ₦750 per person. We have doubled it to ₦1,450 to ensure providers are properly equipped to deliver consistent, high-quality care. Fee-for-service rates have also been increased by 380%, based on actuarial evidence aligning cost-reflective rates with quality requirements.

The Federal Government @NigeriaGov has also introduced the One Hour Referral Authorization Code, issued by the insuring entity to the provider to confirm referral approval. By shortening this process to 1 hour, we are eliminating unnecessary delays and ensuring that patients move quickly from primary to specialist care.

To strengthen accountability, I have directed the National Health Insurance Authority @nhia_nigeria to commence covert mystery shopping to monitor providers and ensure that enrollees are not denied treatment. Undercover monitors are already observing processes in facilities nationwide to ensure that insured Nigerians receive timely and dignified care.

The evidence is clear. From fewer than 10m hospital visits in all of 2023, more than 46m visits were recorded by the second quarter of 2025. Reforms in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund @TheBHCPF and the NHIA are delivering measurable gains in patient confidence and service utilization.

As enrollment expands, benefits multiply. Wider adoption of health insurance enhances quality, strengthens accountability, and protects households from financial hardship. These achievements reflect President Tinubu’s vision of a health system that serves all Nigerians, regardless of income or status.

We will continue to modernize infrastructure, strengthen the workforce, and sustain reforms until every Nigerian is covered and cared for.

Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s @officialABAT charge for transparency, accountability and efficient use of public and partner resources, the Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee for the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (#NHSRII) met today to review collective progress in strengthening Nigeria’s health system.

Together with my colleague, Hon. Minister of State @SalakoIziaq, the Perm Sec @Fmohnigeria, agency heads, State Health Commrs, our partners and civil society, we reflected on the gains made under the NHSRII’s four pillars of governance, efficiency, value-chain optimization and health security.

Since its launch in 2023, the Initiative implemented through a Sector-Wide Approach @SWApGov has aligned federal, state and partner investments around one goal: better health for Nigerians. The BHCPF remains its backbone, supporting essential services through @nhia_nigeria, @NphcdaNG, NEMTC and @NCDCgov, alongside programmes like HOPE PHC, MAMII and IMPACT.

The results are encouraging. In the first two quarters of 2025, over 80m visits were recorded at primary health facilities, four times more than in 2023. More than 21 million Nigerians are covered under health insurance, over 11,000 pregnant women have received emergency care, 15,000 benefitted from obstetric treatment, and more than 500,000 are enrolled in covered maternal care. Facility data show a 12 percent drop in maternal mortality.

Preventive health outcomes have also improved. The integrated measles, rubella, polio and neglected tropical disease campaign targeting 106 million children has exceeded expectations in the northern states with 92% coverage for measles and rubella and strong results for polio and NTD interventions. These gains reflect the determination of governments, partners and frontline health workers to extend essential services to every community.

We launched the BHCPF Guideline 2.0, which institutionalizes performance-based financing and accountability and will guide the disbursement of ₦32.9bn to states and facilities before the end of October. Supported facilities will expand from 8,800 to 13,000, with a pathway to 17,000 through the HOPE Programme. Facility allocations have increased from ₦300,750 to between ₦600,000 and ₦800,000 per quarter.

Evidence confirms that BHCPF-supported facilities outperform others across all major service indicators including immunization, skilled birth attendance and service utilization.

To further safeguard accountability, a JTF with @icpcnigeria has been activated to monitor fund utilization at both facility and community levels, ensuring that public resources directly translate to improved services for Nigerians.

Data accuracy and integrity remain central to reform. Instances of overreporting of maternal and child deaths are being addressed through improved verification systems, digital reporting and integration of NINs into health records, enabling the tracking of individual beneficiaries and ensuring that progress remains verifiable and equitable.

The NEMSAS continues to grow with over 11,000 emergency patients served in the last quarter, disbursing ₦470m for care and operating in 150 LGAs. Nigerians can dial 112 in 30 states, with nationwide coverage expected by December 2025.

To validate the steady improvements being observed, a Mini-Demographic and Health Survey (Mini-DHS) will be conducted in 2026 to provide independent national data on maternal and child health outcomes and inform future planning. Civil society and the media remain vital partners in sustaining transparency and ensuring that community voices continue to shape implementation.

Equally, we have issued a Red Letter calling on every Nigerian to protect the health of our nation.

Under the visionary leadership of President Tinubu, Nigeria’s health sector is redefining accountable governance, anchored on results, driven by integrity and inclusion, and turning reforms into real improvements in people’s lives.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

The convening of the Summit of the National Nursing and Midwifery and the Presidential High-Level Advisory Council on the Support of Women and Girls in Nigeria today in Abuja underscores a coherent national purpose under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, to secure lives, strengthen our health workforce, and advance the dignity and opportunity of women and girls as a foundation of Nigeria’s human capital.

The launch of the Nigeria Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery (2025–2030) at the Nursing and Midwifery Summit seeks to expand training, elevate leadership, and embed evidence-based professional standards, including our adoption of the Best Practice Spotlight Organization (#BPSO) model, to improve quality of care nationwide. This is a practical step that consolidates service excellence where Nigerians meet their health system: the frontline. In parallel, the Presidential High-Level Advisory Council (P-HLAC) advances an integrated, life-course approach that centres women and girls and recognises that maternal health, adolescent wellbeing, protection from gender-based violence, and equitable access to education and economic opportunity are not peripheral to development; they are the architecture of it.

These engagements are mutually reinforcing. The Nursing and Midwifery framework strengthens who delivers health while the High-Level Council ensures for whom and how health is delivered and that women and girls can access and benefit from those services safely, equitably, and with dignity. Through the #NHSRII and its Sector-Wide Approach @SWApGov, we are translating collaboration into results: coordinated investments, clear accountability, reliable data, and frontline capacity that reaches every community.

In tandem, we are advancing the continental mandate entrusted to Mr President as the @_AfricanUnion Champion for Human Resources for Health & Community Health Delivery Partnerships by demonstrating, in practice, how policy coherence, institutional investment, and gender-responsive governance can transform the health workforce and unlock Africa’s demographic dividend. Nigeria will continue to lead by example, scaling training and jobs for nurses and midwives, entrenching evidence-based care, protecting women and girls, and revitalising primary health care as the engine of resilience.

We deeply appreciate the leadership and partnership across government and society that continue to define our work. We particularly acknowledge the unwavering advocacy and inspiration of Her Excellency, Madam First Lady, @SenRemiTinubu CON, whose commitment to adolescent health, maternal wellbeing, and women’s empowerment continues to elevate these priorities to national and global attention. Her leadership embodies the human face of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

We also recognise Her Excellency Senator @HarryBanigo, Chair, Senate Committee on Health @NGRSenate; the Hon Minister Women Affairs @FMWA_ng, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim @ImmaculateIman; and the Hon Minister of Education, @DrTunjiAlausa @NigEducation, whose collaboration with @Fmohnigeria has expanded national training quotas for nurses and midwives from 28,000 to 115,000 and strengthened alignment between health and education in workforce development. The support of the SGF, Senator George Akume @SGFAkume @OfficialOSGF; Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman @hadizabalausman, SA to the President, Policy & Coordination and Head, CDCU @NGRPresident; among other colleagues are vital to our mission.

We appreciate our development partners including the @WHO, @UNFPA, and the @FCDOGovUK, whose consistent technical and programmatic collaboration continues to strengthen the system we are building together under the #NHSRII and the #SWAp framework.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, our direction is clear and our commitment firm, to a health system that protects life, honours those who deliver care, and ensures that no Nigerian is left behind.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

It was a pleasure to welcome the new World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Verghis, this afternoon.

Our conversation centred on advancing the health and human capital priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, under the Renewed Hope Agenda. We discussed the ongoing implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach Compact for Universal Health Coverage, accelerating human capital development in line with Nigeria’s demographic transition, and fast-tracking local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and life-science products to strengthen health security and drive innovation.

We also aligned on upcoming engagements with World Bank President Ajay Banga @WorldBank at the HealthWorks Leaders Coalition Roundtable during the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., and at the Universal Health Coverage High-Level Forum in Tokyo later this year, which will mark the launch of the UHC Knowledge Hub to support learning and capacity building across health and finance authorities.

Working with the World Bank and other partners, we remain committed to building resilient systems, investing in people, and advancing prosperity for all Nigerians.

[Muhammad Ali Pate @muhammadpate]

It was a historic moment today as we flagged off the largest integrated health campaign ever undertaken on the African continent, bringing together measles and rubella vaccination, polio, HPV, malaria treatment, and interventions against neglected tropical diseases under one coordinated effort.

This is not just about vaccines; it is about reimagining how we deliver health, reaching people where they live, and restoring trust between citizens and their health system.

Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, @officialABAT, health is being repositioned as a pillar of national development, healing the country, unifying communities, and inspiring new confidence in our collective capacity to do great things.

We salute Her Excellency, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, @SenRemiTinubu, for her steadfast advocacy and personal investment of time, talent, and resources, which have helped vaccinate over 15 million adolescent girls against HPV and protect them for life from cervical cancer.

With this campaign, we aim to reach over 100 million Nigerian children with life-saving interventions, the largest such effort in our history.

This is what Renewed Hope looks like in action: one community outreach, multiple services delivered, and a stronger bond of confidence between Nigerians and their health system.

We thank @Muyi_Aina for his exceptional commitment, together with his team at @NphcdaNG, in ensuring that every community is reached and every child protected. Alongside our partners @WHO, @UNICEF, @gavi, @gatesfoundation, and our traditional and religious leaders, we will continue to build a healthier, more equitable, and more unified Nigeria.

Health for all Nigerians. Hope renewed. Progress is underway.