By Joy Onu, Abuja
Nigeria is set to host two major international health events in 2026, including the Fifth High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) — the first of its kind in Africa — and the Commonwealth Meeting on Nursing. The announcement came as the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reported strong performance in 2025 and received commendation from the House of Representatives for its implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate CON, told lawmakers that the AMR meeting, scheduled for June, is expected to attract around 170 ministers and senior global officials. The event has prompted an additional provision of about ₦2 billion in the 2026 budget to ensure Nigeria hosts successfully.
Reflecting on 2025, Prof. Pate said the Ministry achieved full utilisation of personnel costs through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). Of the ₦1.5 billion allocated for overheads, ₦832.28 million was released and nearly fully utilised. Capital project releases, however, were delayed due to the Accountant General’s bottom-up cash plan, a situation he described as unusual. Despite this, initiatives such as the Presidential Vaccine Taskforce (PVAC), Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and BHCPF recorded measurable successes, reinforcing gains in primary healthcare delivery.
During the presentation of the Ministry’s 2026 Headquarters Budget Proposal to the Joint House Committees on Health Services, Prof. Pate emphasised that effective service delivery depends more on timely fund releases than on allocations alone. “It’s not the allocation; it’s about the releases. If resources are made available, the Ministry and my colleagues are ready to execute efficiently,” he said.
The House of Representatives, through the Chairman of the Committee on Health Services, Rt. Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, commended the Ministry for its BHCPF implementation, describing it as a lifeline for improving health outcomes at the grassroots. “If we truly want to provide healthcare for our people, it starts at primary healthcare. Many states and local governments have risen to the challenge,” he said.
Lawmakers also urged the Ministry to work with relevant authorities to shorten delays in BHCPF fund releases and requested the appointment of a liaison officer to improve communication on intervention programmes. While assuring that the committee would scrutinise the 2026 budget proposal for approval, Rt. Hon. Magaji noted that the Ministry’s budget growth does not fully reflect Nigeria’s rising population and may require adjustments.
Prof. Pate was accompanied to the budget defence by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom mni, and directors of key departments.
