The Federal Government has called for stronger public-private partnerships to unlock sustainable healthcare financing, accelerate local manufacturing and improve access to quality healthcare across Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call at the opening ceremony of the FCMB Healthcare Summit 2026 in Lagos, where he urged financial institutions, investors and healthcare providers to collaborate with the government in transforming the nation’s healthcare system.
Dr. Salako said reforms under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) have created an enabling environment for private sector investment in healthcare.
“Government cannot build Nigeria’s healthcare future on public financing alone, and the private sector cannot do so without the policy certainty, risk-sharing instruments and guaranteed demand that only government can provide,” the minister said.
He noted that the Federal Government has significantly increased investments in primary healthcare through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
According to him, of the ₦339 billion disbursed through the BHCPF since its inception, ₦235 billion was released within the last three years under the current administration, while the latest tranche of ₦32.9 billion is supporting more than 8,300 Primary Healthcare Centres across the country.
“The reforms we are implementing are creating greater policy certainty and unlocking new opportunities for private investment across Nigeria’s health sector,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that health insurance enrolment has risen to more than 22 million Nigerians following the implementation of the NHIA Act and ongoing efforts to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending through expanded financial protection and mandatory health insurance coverage.
On efforts to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical production, Dr. Salako said the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain is driving local manufacturing of medicines, diagnostics and medical devices through targeted incentives, procurement reforms and improved access to long-term financing.
“Initiatives under PVAC are accelerating local manufacturing of medicines, diagnostics and medical devices through targeted incentives, strategic procurement reforms and improved access to long-term financing,” he said.
He added that complementary reforms such as Medipool are improving market confidence and creating a more favourable business environment for local manufacturers.
Dr. Salako welcomed the launch of the FCMB Dedicated Healthcare Fund, describing it as a major step toward mobilising private capital for healthcare delivery and expanding local manufacturing.
“The FCMB Dedicated Healthcare Fund is a significant contribution to mobilising private capital for healthcare delivery and local manufacturing while complementing existing financing initiatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry and other development finance institutions,” he said.
The minister urged investors and healthcare providers to strengthen corporate governance, adopt blended financing models and channel investments toward universal health coverage, local manufacturing and resilient health systems.
“I urge investors and healthcare providers to strengthen corporate governance, leverage blended financing models, and prioritise investments that support universal health coverage, local manufacturing and resilient health systems.”
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to healthcare reforms, Dr. Salako said the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would continue implementing policies that strengthen healthcare financing, promote local manufacturing and build a resilient health system capable of delivering improved health outcomes for all Nigerians.
“The Federal Government remains committed to strengthening healthcare financing through sustained reforms and strategic public-private partnerships. We will continue to implement policies that expand local manufacturing, strengthen healthcare financing and build a resilient health system that delivers better health outcomes for all Nigerians.”