The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, has announced that Nigeria is seeking to raise nearly N150 billion to fund vaccine procurement for 2025 and 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s health system.
Edun made this known on Wednesday at the 2025 Joint Annual Review of the Health Sector, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light.”
The Joint Annual Review serves as one of Nigeria’s key accountability platforms for the health sector, bringing together stakeholders to review progress, assess performance, and align priorities for the coming year.
“The health sector budget in 2025 rose by nearly 60 per cent, and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has more than doubled from N31.5 billion in 2024 to almost N299 billion in 2026,” Edun said.
“Similarly, with immunisation, we are actively seeking to raise additional funds maybe around N150 billion to cover vaccine procurement needed for 2025 and 2026. We also know that the budget for health is well over five per cent (5.2%) of the national budget, up from just over three per cent a couple of years ago. So, health is being prioritised,” he added.
The finance minister emphasised the government’s commitment to closing the gap between appropriation and the actual release of funds, stressing that domestic resource mobilisation remains vital in sustaining progress amid limited global aid.
He also urged state and local governments to complement federal efforts by increasing spending on health and education.
On his part, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to reduce dependency on foreign aid and boost local manufacturing of medicines, vaccines, and health technologies.
“This is consistent with the President’s ward-based development approach, which is perhaps the most practical strategy for lifting communities across Nigeria,” Pate noted.
The minister further disclosed that the government is exploring innovative financing options such as fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, public-private partnerships, and digital transparency tools to ensure accountability in health funding.
“By combining domestic resources, local engagement, and measurable outcomes, Nigeria is steadily building a health system that is resilient, inclusive, and responsive to the people it serves,” he said.
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