Otamere Gladness 
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has named Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Delta, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory as the top-performing states in implementing resolutions from the 2024 National Council on Health (NCH), placing them ahead in Nigeria’s push toward universal health coverage.
Presenting the 2024 implementation status report at the ongoing 66th NCH meeting in Calabar, the Ministry’s Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Kamil Shoretire, said the assessment reflected each state’s commitment to advancing policies that strengthen health systems nationwide.
“The states topping the response and resolution implementation are Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Delta, FCT and Plateau,” Shoretire announced. “Kebbi is improving from behind, followed by Abia, Kogi, Bauchi, Enugu and Osun.”
The meeting, themed “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage Through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation,” brings together senior policymakers, commissioners, development partners and health experts to evaluate progress and align national priorities.
Shoretire explained that approximately 31 per cent of the 2024 resolutions had been implemented nationwide, noting that the commitments were intended to span multiple years rather than be completed within a single cycle. “The implementation process is ongoing because these resolutions were never meant for one-year completion,” he noted.
“Collectively, these factors affected the pace of implementation. However, with improved coordination, stronger advocacy and adequate resourcing, states will accelerate their efforts and achieve better results,” he said.
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Korede Abdullah 
Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwatobi Adu