The Federal Government is considering approaching the National Assembly to increase the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from the current 1 percent to at least 2 percent of consolidated revenue as part of efforts to ensure stronger and more sustainable domestic investments in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adekunle Salako, announced this at the opening of a four-day National Policy Dialogue on “Reimagining the Future of Health Financing in Nigeria,” held in Abuja on Monday. The event was organised by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

Salako said the move was necessary in view of the rising out-of-pocket health expenses facing Nigerians, a trend that government is determined to address.

He stated, “Under the Presidential Performance Agreement we signed, a key deliverable for the Ministry is to enroll at least 44 million Nigerians into the national health insurance scheme by 2030. This will help reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health, which currently stands at an unacceptably high rate of about 70%.”

The Minister explained that government’s priority remains strengthening the health framework, expanding coverage, ensuring sustainability, and tackling persistent challenges such as inadequate budgetary allocations, systemic inefficiencies, fragmented programming, and limited reliable data.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming the country’s health financing system through domestic resource mobilisation, expanded insurance coverage, and reforms to reduce reliance on external aid. According to him, the administration is dedicated to improving citizens’ health through sustainable strategies.

Salako commended the NHIA for convening the policy dialogue, noting that President Bola Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Health to reduce dependence on foreign aid by boosting domestic funding.

“The President has consistently emphasised that a strong health system is vital for national growth, and has therefore mandated the implementation of several interconnected policies to achieve Universal Health Coverage and protect vulnerable Nigerians,” he said.

The Minister pointed to the growth in federal budgetary allocations for health as proof of the administration’s commitment. He explained, “Nigeria’s health budget has grown significantly from ₦434 billion in 2018 to ₦1.2 trillion in 2021. While this represents commendable progress, the 2025 allocation of ₦2.48 trillion, equivalent to 5.18% of the total federal budget—though more than doubling since 2021, remains far below the 15% benchmark set by the Abuja Declaration.”

Highlighting efforts to expand health insurance access, Salako added, “Key among these is the National Health Insurance Act of 2022, which makes health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians and seeks to significantly expand coverage beyond the previous 5% of the population. The Act also established the Vulnerable Group Fund to cater for those unable to afford premiums.”

While urging stronger domestic investments, he stressed that Nigeria must learn from international best practices, citing Ghana and Kenya as examples. “Moving forward, we must be prepared to learn from best practices in other countries. Nigeria aims to adapt such models, strengthen regional collaboration, and apply context-specific innovations,” he said.

The four-day forum is expected to provide a platform for shaping the future of health financing in the country. Participants will explore new strategies, review existing challenges, and seek practical solutions to expand funding and reduce the burden on households.

Speaking at the event, Director-General of the NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, described the dialogue as timely. He noted that the global financing landscape for health is undergoing major changes.

“This gathering is dedicated to shaping the future of domestic health financing in Nigeria. This dialogue is timely. Globally, the financing landscape for health is shifting. The world we knew, where official development assistance played a central role, is changing rapidly. We are in what I describe as a period of multiple transitions,” Ohiri said.

He highlighted three major global transitions—development financing, health, and demographics—and stressed that these shifts demand a change in strategy.

According to him, “Nigeria recognises these realities. At the last World Health Assembly, the global community adopted a landmark resolution on strengthening health financing. This resolution reaffirmed commitments to increase domestic investment in health to achieve Universal Health Coverage, ensure that external financing complements rather than dictates national priorities, reduce fragmentation and dependency, strengthen systems for tracking and reporting health financing flows, and support countries in developing health financing roadmaps.”

Ohiri explained that the dialogue would prioritise citizen perspectives, private sector involvement, and sub-national participation. He said discussions would begin with engagement involving citizens, civil society, the media, and representative associations.

He further noted, “The forum will then review the state of health financing in Nigeria using data and evidence to guide policy, followed by discussions with sub-national governments, and conclude with high-level engagements involving the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Planning, and the Presidential Committee on Tax Reform.”

He stressed that NHIA’s mission is in line with President Tinubu’s reform agenda, adding, “We are committed to expanding financial protection for all Nigerians by reducing dependence on out-of-pocket payments. Equity remains central to this effort, ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are not left behind. This is a call to action and a call to collaborate. Achieving sustainable and equitable health financing will require the collective effort of government, civil society, development partners, the private sector, and academia. As we begin today, I hope the energy and commitment to this forum will culminate in clear commitments, documented outcomes, and a roadmap for Nigeria’s future in health financing.”

Panellists at the event, which included public health experts, media practitioners, development partners, and other health stakeholders, discussed innovative approaches for sustainable health financing. They examined accountability in the sector with a focus on improving budget transparency, participatory budgeting, and expenditure tracking.

Participants also deliberated on the role of the media as a strategic tool for promoting transparency and accountability in driving domestic resource mobilisation for health.

The national policy dialogue on health financing will continue until Thursday, with outcomes expected to shape future reforms and investments in the sector.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today received Vice President Francia Márquez of Colombia at the Aso Villa, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties between Africa and Latin America.

Speaking during the meeting, Tinubu highlighted the shared cultural and historical connections that unite both regions. He recalled Márquez’s remark about returning to “the land of our ancestors,” noting that “no ocean can separate a shared heritage.”

The President explained that while history once created divisions between Africa and Latin America, both sides are now committed to fostering new collaboration. “Our shared history can lead us to a brighter future of mutual prosperity,” he said.

Tinubu praised the efforts of Vice President Kashim Shettima and his team for laying the groundwork for the partnership. According to him, Nigeria’s business opportunities with Colombia have already improved, and the agreements reached enjoy his full support.

He added that Nigeria’s recent bilateral progress with Brazil could serve as a model for cooperation with Colombia, especially in aviation, while urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accelerate diplomatic engagements.

“Nigeria brings the energy of a young, skilled population; Colombia brings opportunity and heritage. We must keep collaborating to drive inclusive growth, social justice, and stronger South-South cooperation,” Tinubu stated.

As Africa’s largest democracy, he assured that Nigeria will continue to play a leading role in building lasting partnerships with Latin America and the Caribbean. “No ocean is wide enough to divide us any longer,” the President affirmed.

The Engineering Directorate of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has commenced a one-week hands-on training programme on the assembly, operation, and maintenance of NASENI Multipurpose Mini-tractors.

Declaring the training open, the Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Nonyern Onyechi, explained that the training followed the Agency’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KNIGHTS Company of the Czech Republic on technology transfer.

She stated that four staff members had earlier participated in an intensive training session in the Czech Republic, making it necessary to cascade the knowledge to other staff, particularly in tractor assembly and maintenance procedures. “This training is very important, and I urge participants to take it seriously and acquire the skills that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s agricultural and economic development,” Dr. Onyechi said.

In his welcome remarks, the Director, Technology and Business Development, Engr. Ozigi O. Bernard, welcomed the participants and stressed the importance of commitment throughout the exercise. He noted that the outcome of the programme would reflect the results expected from the four staff members trained abroad in tractor coupling and maintenance.

While appreciating the support of the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Engr. Bernard encouraged staff to maximize the opportunity by applying the knowledge gained to advance national development.

The one-week training programme, which began on Monday, 1st September 2025, will run until Monday, 8th September 2025, with a focus on advancing technology transfer, boosting agricultural productivity, and improving economic growth through innovative engineering solutions.

Nigeria and Colombia have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations, marking a new chapter in diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations. The agreement was signed on Monday during the Nigeria–Colombia Bilateral Meeting and Business Forum at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The signing was carried out by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and Colombia’s Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo Jassir. The deal aims to strengthen bilateral relations through consistent political dialogue and deeper cooperation in trade and investment.

Jaramillo Jassir explained that the MOU will promote “very frequent political dialogue” with Nigeria. He added that it also provides for visa approvals for Colombian diplomats, making their visits to Nigeria more convenient and boosting diplomatic ties.

At the business forum, Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, emphasized the importance of transforming the shared potential of both countries into real economic progress. He urged the private sectors in Nigeria and Colombia to drive growth through new opportunities, deeper partnerships, and solutions to common challenges.

“We cannot achieve that unless we compare our differences and similarities, as well as our resources and potential. This is a practical way to propel trade and investment, improve agriculture, foster culture, and exchange ideas that will mutually benefit our countries,” Shettima said.

The forum focused on areas such as foreign investment, agriculture, cultural exchange, and trade expansion, highlighting opportunities for long-term development between Nigeria and Colombia.