By Our Correspondent
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, announcing that more than ₦98 billion has been disbursed to support primary healthcare services across the country. The funding, released under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), is aimed at improving access to quality and affordable healthcare, particularly for rural and underserved communities.
According to the President, the funds have already supported over 8,300 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) nationwide. As part of a broader expansion plan, the federal government will extend financial support to an additional 5,212 facilities, bringing the total number of benefiting centres to more than 13,500. This move is designed to strengthen grassroots healthcare delivery and reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary health institutions.
The administration also reported significant infrastructure and service improvements. More than 2,500 PHCs have been upgraded to provide 24-hour services, equipped with trained personnel, essential medicines, improved medical equipment, and reliable electricity and water supply. In addition, over 1,400 centres are currently undergoing rehabilitation to meet national healthcare standards.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the government has expanded health insurance coverage to reach millions of vulnerable Nigerians, ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent citizens from accessing basic medical services. Training and retraining programmes for frontline health workers are also being intensified to enhance service quality and patient outcomes.
President Tinubu described the initiative as a key component of his administration’s broader healthcare reform strategy, emphasizing that accessible and functional primary healthcare remains the foundation of a resilient national health system.
