By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The Federal Government has expanded its Jigi-Bola eye care initiative to provide at least five million free spectacles and 25,000 cataract surgeries to Nigerians by the end of 2027, as part of efforts to reduce avoidable blindness and widen access to quality eye care.
The Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, in a statement issued on Thursday, stated that the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said this while declaring open the 49th Annual National Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) and the Annual General Meeting of the African Council of Optometry (AFCO) on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
Salako said the expansion would be implemented under the Renewed Hope Health Connect Programme, building on the progress recorded through the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative, popularly known as Jigi-Bola 2.0.
He said more than 2,220 Primary Health Care workers in 16 states had so far been trained and equipped to screen for vision problems and refer patients requiring further attention.
According to the minister, the mobile eye care programme has screened nearly two million Nigerians and distributed more than 1.3 million free reading glasses, with about 66 per cent of beneficiaries receiving spectacles for the first time.
He said the figures reflected the Federal Government’s broader efforts to make eye health an integral part of the country’s healthcare system rather than an issue addressed only after serious vision problems had developed.
Salako said eye care had received greater attention under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the government prioritising primary eye care and prevention of avoidable blindness through targeted policies and investments.
He listed some of the measures under the National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan (2024–2028) to include integrating eye care services across all levels of healthcare, introducing the Nigeria Glaucoma Guidelines and Toolkit to standardise diagnosis, treatment and referral, and training ophthalmologists from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to improve glaucoma management nationwide.
The minister said stronger investment in eye health would have benefits beyond the health sector, particularly by improving educational outcomes, boosting productivity, reducing healthcare costs and promoting social inclusion.
He cited studies indicating that every $1 invested in global eye care could generate between $28 and $36 in returns through the prevention of vision loss, improved quality of life, lower pressure on healthcare systems and increased productivity.
“Enhanced eye care services is a panacea to promoting social inclusion, education, and overall well-being,” Salako said.
He described optometrists as frontline providers of community eye health whose services were essential to connecting primary vision screening with specialised clinical care.
Salako also
called for deeper cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigerian Optometric Association, particularly in expanding community-based eye care programmes, promoting research and strengthening the integration of optometric services into the national health system.
“As we look ahead, the Ministry remains fully committed to collaborating with the Nigerian Optometry Association to integrate these grassroots programs even deeper into our national health architecture. We want to hear your ideas, tap into your research, and lean on your expertise to make universal eye health a reality in Nigeria,” he said.
The minister spoke against the backdrop of the conference theme, “Optometrists in a Changing Africa: From Diversity to Unity,” which he described as a timely reminder of the need for stronger collaboration among eye care professionals across Africa.
He said such collaboration was necessary to build resilient and inclusive health systems capable of responding to the continent’s growing eye health challenges.
Salako further congratulated the Nigerian Optometric Association on securing the headquarters of the African Council of Optometry in Nigeria and producing the President-elect of the continental body, describing both developments as significant milestones for the country’s eye care profession.
He urged optometrists to sustain professional excellence, mentor younger practitioners and work closely with government to improve access to quality eye care.
Declaring the conference open, the minister expressed optimism that discussions at the gathering would produce practical solutions to existing gaps in the prevention and treatment of vision loss in Nigeria and across Africa.
