Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has revitalised 901 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the country and plans to upgrade 2,701 more, as part of an ambitious national agenda to establish at least one fully functional PHC in every political ward in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), during the agency’s first quarterly press briefing for 2025 held in Abuja. The initiative aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme and the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint.
Dr. Aina outlined a comprehensive three-pillar strategy aimed at strengthening the PHC system, restoring public confidence in healthcare services, and fortifying Nigeria’s frontline health security.
“Our goal is to rebuild trust in our health system by ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to quality, functional primary health care,” he said.
The NPHCDA assessed over 18,000 PHCs nationwide and identified critical service delivery gaps now being addressed through increased federal investment and strategic collaborations with state governments and development partners.
To deepen impact, the agency is expanding coverage under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 8,406 to 17,600 PHCs. Funding has also been significantly scaled: high-volume centres will now receive N800,000 per quarter, while lower-volume centres will get N600,000—up from the previous flat rate of N300,000.
Dr. Aina also unveiled new digital tools to enhance accountability and transparency, including a real-time public dashboard to track PHC performance (https://phc.nphcda.gov.ng) and a digitised financial management application currently being piloted in four states.
Other Key Highlights Include:
Launch of a digitised financial system to streamline fund utilization across PHCs.
Broader use of BHCPF’s four gateways—NPHCDA, NHIA, NCDC, and NEMSAS—for infrastructure, health security, and emergency response.
Tiered funding based on PHC service capacity.
A strengthened PHC workforce development plan in partnership with state governments.
Transparent use of $1 billion mobilised by the Federal Government for PHC revitalisation.
Coinciding with African Vaccination Week 2025, themed “Immunization for All is Humanity Possible,” Dr. Aina reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to reaching every child with life-saving vaccines. He encouraged citizens and the media to use the public dashboard to monitor progress and drive accountability in health service delivery.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Eshetu Wassie, WHO’s Head of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, said:
“Immunization is not only a cornerstone of primary health care—it is a fundamental human right. Vaccines have saved more than 154 million lives over the past 50 years, equivalent to six lives every minute.”
He urged stakeholders to stay committed to defeating vaccine-preventable diseases and ensuring no one is left behind.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Christian Munduate, emphasized the urgency of reaching underserved populations.
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“One in three infants in Nigeria remains unreached. These zero-dose children are the most vulnerable,” she said, calling for increased domestic investment and community-led solutions to overcome vaccine access barriers.
She also appealed to the media to be allies in countering misinformation and fostering trust in immunization.
