Despite over N55.44 billion in disbursements to primary healthcare centres between 2022 and mid-2025, Nigeria’s healthcare system continues to struggle with funding inefficiencies and service delivery gaps.
Despite N55.44 billion in disbursements to states’ primary healthcare centres between 2022 and the first half of 2025, Nigeria’s primary healthcare system remains under severe strain, with experts warning that thousands of Nigerians continue to face avoidable health risks due to inadequate personnel, infrastructure, and resources. Concerns persist even as Nigeria’s health budget rose by about 60 per cent and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) is projected to reach N298 billion by the end of 2026.
Stakeholders say the increased allocations may not automatically translate into stronger service delivery due to delayed releases, weak accountability mechanisms, and uneven spending priorities across states. Data obtained by The Guardian Nigeria showed that total disbursements to states under the BHCPF through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) gateway between 2019 and the first half of 2025 stood at about N82.69 billion, with a steady rise in allocations over the years.
Within the last four years alone, from 2022 to mid-2025, cumulative disbursements reached N55.44 billion, with Kano State and Katsina State among the highest recipients. However, experts warn that the funding remains insufficient relative to Nigeria’s over 35,000 primary healthcare facilities nationwide, noting that in Kano—home to over 1,200 facilities—each centre received roughly N1 million in 2024, highlighting persistent gaps in operational capacity and service delivery.
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