Stakeholders in Nigeria's health sector are advocating for increased health financing, stronger primary healthcare, and expanded health insurance coverage. They are urging political parties to make Universal Health Coverage (UHC) a measurable policy commitment ahead of the 2027 general elections. This call to action comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) demands clear, credible, and measurable UHC commitments from political parties and leaders.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, emphasized the importance of treating healthcare as a core governance and national development priority. He stated that achieving UHC requires sustained investment in health financing, expanded health insurance coverage, and a motivated health workforce. Yilwatda also stressed the need for a framework to track political commitments and measure progress before, during, and after each election.
The Chairman of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, Dr. Muhammad Lecky, urged political parties and candidates to build their health commitments around existing government compacts. He suggested that instead of introducing new promises, parties should focus on implementing existing agreements. Lecky also called for stronger primary healthcare systems and expanded health insurance coverage, emphasizing the need to enforce the National Health Insurance Authority Act.
Professor Ahmed Aliko, Senior Advisor to the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), highlighted the importance of political will and strong leadership in achieving UHC. He cited examples of countries that have made significant progress in healthcare reform, despite facing economic challenges. Aliko suggested that Nigeria's fiscal and health-system challenges could provide an opportunity to accelerate reforms.
The Health Sector Lead for GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Fatima Zanna, emphasized that UHC requires not only expanded access to services but also resilient systems capable of responding to disease outbreaks and other emergencies. She stressed that UHC cannot be delivered by government alone and must be a Nigeria-owned and -led journey.
The Chair of the Nigeria UHC Forum, Chief Moji Makanjuola, said the Forum would use the 2027 electoral cycle to secure measurable commitments from political actors and strengthen accountability after the elections. She acknowledged that previous engagements had helped place health commitments on the political agenda but noted that significant gaps remain in achieving UHC.
The Nigeria UHC Forum plans to review its Citizens-Led Health Agenda, assess the health landscape across states, and develop a civil society roadmap for engagement before, during, and after the 2027 elections. The Forum's Co-Convener, Dr. Gafar Alawode, emphasized the need for political parties to make UHC a key commitment in their manifestos, ensuring that health priorities translate into government plans and action after the elections.
Key points
- Stakeholders urge political parties to prioritize Universal Health Coverage ahead of the 2027 elections.
- APC demands clear, credible, and measurable UHC commitments from political parties and leaders.
- Nigeria's health sector stakeholders call for increased health financing, stronger primary healthcare, and expanded health insurance coverage.
