Korede Abdullah 
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria is strengthening domestic health financing to sustain immunisation and primary healthcare services as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, begins a gradual transition out of the country.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate announces the move on Thursday during the official handover of the Gavi and UNICEF Primary Health Care Solarisation Project to the Federal Government in Abuja.
The initiative, implemented by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), installs solar power systems in 371 primary health centres across 17 states, helping rural facilities operate without reliable electricity.
Pate says the project will significantly improve vaccine storage and uninterrupted healthcare delivery in off-grid communities.
“By ensuring a steady power supply, PHCs can keep life-saving vaccines at the correct temperatures and provide uninterrupted care to patients nationwide,” he says.
According to the minister, Nigeria is expanding domestic resource mobilisation with support from state governments and development partners to build a resilient health system as donor support gradually reduces.
He reveals that primary healthcare centres across the country have recorded over 47 million patient visits, while a recent vaccination campaign reached more than 100 million children with measles and rubella vaccines backed by $100 million from Gavi.
Addressing concerns about shortages of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Pate says additional supplies are already on the way.
“A new shipment is on the way to fix shortages in certain states,” he says, explaining that global demand rather than local logistics caused the temporary stockouts.
Health officials say Nigeria’s transition from donor dependency to stronger domestic funding is critical for sustaining vaccination coverage and strengthening public health systems.
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