Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigerian households record a marginal decline in direct healthcare spending in 2024, signaling slow but steady progress toward improved financial protection in the health sector.
Data from the National Health Accounts 2023–2024, unveiled in Abuja on Sunday, show that out-of-pocket payments fall to 58.3 per cent of total health expenditure, down from 58.8 per cent in 2023. Although modest, the decline continues a downward trend from levels above 70 per cent recorded between 2015 and 2021.
The report, produced by federal ministries, the National Bureau of Statistics and development partners, reveals that total health spending rises from ₦7.88 trillion in 2023 to ₦10.42 trillion in 2024, driven by increased contributions from households, government and donors.
Despite the improvement, households remain the largest source of health financing, accounting for 66 per cent of total spending in 2024.
Government spending stands at 12.4 per cent, while social health insurance contributes just 5 per cent, highlighting weak risk-pooling mechanisms.
Donor funding increases significantly from 14 per cent to 19 per cent, though much of it bypasses government systems. Infrastructure investment accounts for only 10.5 per cent, reflecting persistent gaps in health facilities and system upgrades.
Health experts welcome the progress but warn that heavy reliance on household payments continues to expose vulnerable groups to financial hardship.
Stakeholders urge governments to expand insurance coverage, boost public funding and strengthen pooled financing to reduce out-of-pocket costs further.
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Koko Maxwella 
Korede Abdullah