The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to strengthening regional health security, expanding surveillance capacity, and advancing continental health sovereignty as it hosted the West Africa Regional Review and Coordination Meeting in Abuja.
Speaking at the high-level gathering, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, welcomed delegates from African Union (AU) Member States, regional institutions, and international development partners, describing the meeting as a decisive step toward building a more coordinated, resilient, and self-reliant West African health system.
According to a press statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information and Public Relations, the meeting convened a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Health of the Republic of Ghana and Chair of the Regional Steering Committee (ReSCO); the Regional Director of the Africa CDC West Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC), Dr. Alinon Kokou; representatives of ECOWAS; African Union agencies; the West African Health Organisation (WAHO); WHO AFRO; CEPI; the World Bank; as well as directors of national laboratories, disease surveillance units, Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs), and development partners.
The Minister congratulated Dr. Kokou on completing an impactful year in office, noting that his inclusive leadership has ushered in a new era of responsive and collaborative regional cooperation. He described the hosting of the first annual regional review under Dr. Kokou’s tenure as a significant milestone for West Africa and a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to collective health progress across the sub-region.
Dr. Salako stated that the meeting directly aligns with the health sector transformation agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who also serves as the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and the Community Health Delivery Partnership.
He explained that Nigeria’s ongoing health reforms are built around priority areas shared by Africa CDC and ECOWAS, including: strengthening emergency preparedness and response through resilient systems and expanded PHEOCs; modernising public health intelligence with digital and real-time disease surveillance; accelerating health workforce development and protection; expanding laboratory and diagnostic capacity; and advancing local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
“These reforms are not isolated national efforts; they are contributions to regional and continental integration, consistent with the Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order,” the Minister said.
In a major show of support, Dr. Salako announced Nigeria’s readiness to provide a permanent and functional office space to support the operations of the Africa CDC in the West Africa region, describing the move as a tangible demonstration of the country’s commitment to regional unity and institutional growth.
Reinforcing Nigeria’s support for continental frameworks, he pledged continued backing for the Africa CDC’s Five-Pillar Health Security Agenda, the African Epidemic Fund (AfEF), the proposed Regional PHEOC Coordination Platform, and broader reforms aimed at ensuring Africa leads its own health priorities, preparedness strategies, and governance structures.
He stressed that no single country can effectively confront modern health threats alone, calling on all member states to strengthen solidarity, deepen technical collaboration, and harmonise surveillance and response systems to safeguard the health of West Africa’s estimated 355 million people.
Describing the meeting as more than a technical engagement, the Minister said it presents a rare opportunity for West Africa to define a stronger and more integrated future in health security.
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“As host country, Nigeria welcomes all delegations and assures you of our full support throughout this meeting. We look forward to productive deliberations, renewed commitments, and concrete outcomes,” he stated.
He added with a powerful call for unity and forward-thinking investment in health systems, stressing that the region’s safety and resilience against future outbreaks depend on the actions taken today.
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