By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has called for a unified and credible health data system to address inconsistencies in national health statistics, insisting that government interventions must be subjected to rigorous evaluation to establish their actual impact on healthcare delivery.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) Scientific Conference, themed “Make the Data Count.”
Salako identified inconsistent health figures, outdated statistics and fragmented data systems as major challenges undermining evidence-based planning and decision-making in Nigeria’s health sector.
He explained that different data sources often produce conflicting figures because they adopt different population groups, reporting periods, definitions and measurement methods.
Citing maternal mortality, the minister noted that the figure of 512, which continues to circulate as Nigeria’s current maternal mortality ratio, was actually based on the 2018 baseline.
He also highlighted discrepancies in skilled birth attendance, which stands at about 86 per cent in routine facility reports but 50 per cent in the Mini-DHS, while four antenatal care visits were recorded at 58.5 per cent in survey data but below 30 per cent in some administrative records.
On health insurance, he said reported coverage ranged between 9.5 and 13 per cent, depending on the population base and measurement approach.
Salako cautioned that expanding health insurance coverage alone would not automatically improve health outcomes without addressing shortages and unequal distribution of health workers, essential medicines, electricity and other critical infrastructure.
He disclosed that the 2026 JAR Scientific Conference received 242 abstract submissions from across the country, out of which 59 were selected following a rigorous peer-review process, comprising 24 oral presentations and 35 poster presentations.
The minister challenged researchers to investigate discrepancies in health data, generate evidence to reconcile routine and survey findings, conduct facility assessments and evaluate the actual impact of government interventions.
He specifically called for credible evaluations of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and pro-poor health programmes to establish their effectiveness, costs and sustainability.
Salako proposed measurable benchmarks for future research and evaluation, including harmonised definitions and indicators, common baselines using the 2025–2026 Mini-DHS, annual assessments of primary healthcare facility readiness and reconciled health workforce data.
He also called for routine health data reporting completeness and timeliness to be restored to the 2025 levels of 93 and 88 per cent, respectively, alongside stronger laboratory performance and credible evaluation of healthcare interventions.
The minister further proposed that every intervention should be assessed based on measurable outcomes, cost per additional result and clear recommendations on whether to continue, expand, improve or discontinue the programme.
According to him, interventions that are delivering results should be examined to determine the factors responsible for their success, while programmes showing limited progress should be investigated to establish whether the challenges lie in their design, implementation, funding or measurement.
He stressed that researchers owed government rigorous findings, while government had a responsibility to provide access to data and funding, listen to research outcomes and ensure that recommendations translated into action.
Salako urged participants to ensure that resolutions from the conference had designated persons responsible for implementation and clearly defined timelines.
He subsequently declared the 2026 JAR Scientific Conference officially open, calling on researchers, academics, policymakers and development partners to use evidence and innovation to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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