By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government says maternal health facility case fatalities have declined by 22 per cent between 2024 and August 2026, following interventions targeting 172 local government areas with high maternal mortality burdens.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing President Bola Tinubu on achievements recorded under the Renewed Hope Agenda, according to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on Thursday.
Prof Pate said the progress reflected the implementation of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, anchored on the December 2023 Health Sector Renewal Compact with state governments and expanded in 2025 to include local governments, the private sector, civil society, and traditional and religious leaders.
According to press statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, under the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), approximately 750,000 women were linked to antenatal care in the priority areas within the preceding year.
The ministry added that more than 93,000 women and newborns had benefited from emergency obstetric and newborn care through programmes of the National Health Insurance Authority as of August 2026.
On primary healthcare delivery, the Federal Government reported that 3,526 primary healthcare centres had been revitalised, while 14,107 functional clinics were being counted nationwide.
It said approximately ₦249.5 billion was disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and to primary healthcare centres between 2023 and September 2026.
Health insurance coverage also increased from approximately 16 million people at the beginning of the Tinubu administration to more than 23 million by September 2026, including 2.7 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians who received subsidised coverage through the fund.
The government further reported progress in immunisation, revealing that Nigeria’s measles and rubella vaccination campaign had reached approximately 103 million children by May 2026, while more than 18 million girls aged nine to 14 had received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
In specialist healthcare, three cancer treatment centres in Katsina, Benin and Enugu had been completed and commissioned in collaboration with NSIA MedServe.
The ministry also reported the completion of 10 diagnostic and specialist centres in October 2026, alongside investments in eye care, dialysis subsidies and infrastructure and equipment upgrades across federal tertiary hospitals.
On local manufacturing, the Federal Government said 10 factories producing priority health products had been commissioned, including six in 2026.
The facilities form part of efforts to expand domestic production of essential medicines, diagnostic products, mosquito nets, medical devices and medical oxygen.
According to the ministry, the Presidential Executive Order on local pharmaceutical production has supported eligible manufacturers through tax and tariff relief, while the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain has facilitated technology transfers, strategic partnerships and investment opportunities.
The government said it was also strengthening the health workforce, disease prevention, nutrition, public health laboratories and emergency referral services to improve healthcare access and system resilience.
However, it acknowledged persistent challenges, including limited access to healthcare, shortages of essential medicines, inadequate emergency transport and the uneven distribution of health workers.
The ministry said the government would consolidate the reported gains through sustained investment, stronger accountability and collaboration with state and local governments, development partners and the private sector.
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It maintained that the ultimate measure of success would be improved health outcomes for Nigerians, including safer childbirth, healthier children, affordable treatment and a stronger domestic health industry capable of supporting national health security.
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