ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government says it disbursed ₦249.6 billion from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) during the first three years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, as it targets direct financing for at least 17,600 primary healthcare facilities nationwide.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a briefing on the fund’s implementation. Established under the National Health Act 2014, the BHCPF finances essential health services, particularly for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
Salako described the fund as a key financing mechanism for the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023 to improve healthcare delivery and funding.
FG approves additional ₦40.76bn
According to figures presented at the briefing, total releases to the BHCPF reached ₦422.3 billion as of September 2026. Of this amount, ₦323.6 billion had been disbursed since the fund was established in 2019. The ₦249.6 billion attributed to the Tinubu administration represents 77.1 per cent of the fund’s cumulative disbursements at the time.
Salako said the Ministerial Oversight Committee approved another ₦40.76 billion on 14 October. The allocation is expected to raise cumulative disbursements to ₦364.3 billion, including ₦290.2 billion under the current administration.
The latest allocation comprises ₦19.87 billion for the National Health Insurance Authority, ₦18.34 billion for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, ₦2.04 billion for emergency medical treatment and ₦509.48 million for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The funding will support health insurance, primary healthcare services, emergency medical care and disease surveillance, the minister said.
The government is also working with the National Assembly to increase the fund’s statutory allocation from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Health insurance enrolment rises to 23 million
National health insurance enrolment increased from about 16.2 million people in 2023 to 23.06 million by the third quarter of 2026, according to Salako. He said the fund had supported health insurance coverage for 3,182,943 vulnerable Nigerians with National Identification Numbers.
The BHCPF has also financed free surgeries and rehabilitation for women with vesicovaginal fistula, emergency caesarean sections and other emergency obstetric and newborn care services. These interventions have benefited 96,068 women and babies, the minister added.
The oversight committee has also approved health insurance coverage for approximately 90,000 people in correctional facilities. Implementation is expected to expand inmates’ access to essential healthcare.
FG plans direct funding for more PHCs
Direct facility financing currently covers 8,309 primary healthcare centres across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Salako said. The government plans to add 5,212 facilities, bringing the projected total to 13,521. Its broader target is to extend direct financing to at least 17,600 facilities.
The number of healthcare facilities attaining Level 2 readiness also increased from 1,748 in 2024 to 3,202 in the third quarter of 2026.
Primary healthcare attendance rose from 34.55 million in 2023 to 43.06 million by the second quarter of 2026, according to the minister.
The figures point to increased funding and healthcare utilisation. However, the fund’s impact will depend on timely disbursements, service quality and whether vulnerable Nigerians can access affordable, effective care.
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