Abuja — June 3, 2026 — The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for increased domestic investment in the health sector to reduce reliance on international donors and safeguard progress made in healthcare delivery. The appeal was made during the 25th anniversary celebration of APIN Public Health Initiatives.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of NACA, commended APIN for its role in expanding access to HIV treatment across 30 states. He noted that Nigeria has moved from resistance to offering HIV services at the primary healthcare level to now utilizing more than 3,000 Primary Health Centres nationwide.
Despite these achievements, Pate warned against complacency, citing challenges such as drug-resistant tuberculosis, rising non-communicable diseases among people living with HIV, and persistent infections in hard-to-reach communities. He stressed the need for sustainable domestic financing and stronger partnerships with academia, civil society, and other stakeholders.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Ann Iyonu of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, congratulated APIN and emphasized that public health is a pillar of national stability and economic development. He urged Nigeria to protect healthcare gains despite global economic pressures, rising costs, and donor uncertainties.
Jonathan highlighted that no nation can achieve sustainable development without a healthy population, while Pate reinforced that investing in prevention and local funding will ensure Nigeria’s health system remains resilient.
