Nigeria’s deployment of 774 National Health Fellows across all local government areas has emerged as one of the most transformative elements of the country’s health‑sector reforms between 2023 and June 2026 under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, with new government data showing significant improvements in maternal and child health, primary healthcare revitalisation, immunisation coverage, workforce expansion and tertiary‑care infrastructure under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
The comprehensive report highlights measurable gains across multiple indicators, even as it acknowledges persistent challenges in financing and budget releases.
Maternal and Child Health Indicators Improve
The government says maternal mortality fell by 17 per cent between 2023 and 2025 across 172 LGAs participating in the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII). Newborn mortality also declined by 10 per cent in the same LGAs.
Malaria prevalence dropped to 15 per cent in 2026, down from 41 per cent in 2010. More than 40,000 caesarean sections were reimbursed through the National Health Insurance Authority between 2024 and 2026, while over six million Nigerians gained health insurance coverage from 2023 to 2025. More than 4,000 women received free Vesico Vaginal Fistula repairs.
Primary Healthcare Revitalisation Accelerates
A nationwide upgrade of primary healthcare centres (PHCs) delivered large‑scale improvements. Out of 4,161 PHCs undergoing revitalisation, 3,158 have been completed. Functional Level‑2 PHCs increased by 59 per cent between March 2024 and March 2026, with 53 per cent of all PHCs nationwide now classified as functional.
Solar power systems were installed in more than 430 PHCs, while solar boreholes were deployed in 61 centres. A live PHC functionality dashboard was introduced to improve transparency.
Health Workforce Expansion
Nigeria expanded its frontline health workforce, training 78,054 workers toward a target of 120,000. More than 19,000 skilled birth attendants and 3,876 community health workers were recruited, with resources secured to hire nearly 5,000 more.
An e‑learning platform featuring over 2,200 training videos in five languages was launched, while 60,000 midwife kits were distributed nationwide. Federal tertiary hospitals recruited 20,000 health professionals between 2024 and 2026.
Supply of Commodities and Medical Equipment
Essential health commodities were distributed to PHCs in all 774 LGAs, alongside maternal and neonatal supplies delivered to nearly 1,000 PHCs. More than 243,000 family planning commodities were distributed across 19 states.
Cold‑chain capacity expanded with the deployment of 1,768 solar refrigerators, 62,287 vaccine carriers, 237 solar freezers and 5,754 cold boxes. Equipment standardisation guidelines were also issued.
Financing Reforms Under BHCPF
Reforms to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) strengthened transparency and accountability. About ₦70.5 billion was disbursed to states between 2023 and 2025, while 4,320 PHCs were onboarded for direct facility financing.
The tiering status of 8,309 facilities was published, and nearly ₦60 million was recovered through LGA‑level financial oversight. A BHCPF financial management app was deployed in 14 states.
Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative Expands
MAMII is now active in 33 states, with more than 300,000 pregnant women traced and linked to PHCs. Antenatal care attendance increased by 15.3 per cent, while skilled deliveries rose by 30.9 per cent between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026.
Neonatal mortality declined from 39 to 31 per 1,000 births, infant mortality from 67 to 56, and under‑five mortality from 132 to 102. More than 325,000 mama kits were distributed nationwide.
Immunisation Coverage Strengthens
Routine vaccines remained free nationwide, with major gains recorded in immunisation campaigns. About 17.1 million girls received the HPV vaccine, 102 million children were vaccinated with Measles Rubella, and 786,882 children received the malaria vaccine.
Routine immunisation coverage increased from 50 to 53 per cent, while 174 million children were vaccinated against polio in 2025. Rapid outbreak responses included diphtheria, Mpox, cholera and meningitis vaccinations.
Digitisation of Health Systems
Digital tools were deployed to improve data and service delivery, including the Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), an electronic data requisition portal and an electronic medical record readiness tool. A national ERP system is under development.
Medical Outreach and Service Utilisation
More than 368,000 citizens in underserved communities benefited from medical outreach programmes. Health service utilisation increased significantly, with general attendance rising from 34.5 million to 43 million between 2023 and 2025. Skilled birth attendance, antenatal care and immunisation uptake also improved.
Federal Hospital Upgrades and Cancer Care Expansion
The government completed three new world‑class cancer centres in Katsina, Enugu and Benin, with upgrades in Maiduguri and Abuja. A total of 503 infrastructure projects were executed across 61 federal tertiary hospitals, while 20 new or upgraded hospitals were operationalised.
Cancer prevention and treatment capacity expanded through NICRAT, preventive oncology clinics, modern diagnostic equipment and free cancer care for indigent patients.
Healthcare Value Chain Investment Grows
The Presidential Executive Order on the healthcare value chain spurred industrialisation, with 47 companies benefiting from concessions worth ₦26 billion. Medipool, a national pooled procurement platform, was established, while more than €1 billion from the European Investment Bank and $1 billion from Afreximbank were mobilised for over 90 projects.
National Health Fellowship Programme
The deployment of 774 National Health Fellows across all LGAs has been described as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s health‑sector renewal. The fellows completed more than 1,500 community projects within 16 months, supporting accountability, service delivery and local health‑system strengthening.
Challenges Persist
Despite progress, the report highlights key challenges, including delayed budget releases for 2024–2025, unreleased counterpart financing for vaccines and outstanding ₦60 billion required for completing cancer centres.