Stakeholders have called for urgent measures to address barriers to effective public health financing for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.

At a capacity-strengthening workshop for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on public financing for NCDs and the implementation of the NCD Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (NCD-MSAP), participants identified low budgetary prioritisation, weak donor interest, and fragmented funding as key challenges driving high out-of-pocket spending.

The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

Country Lead for Health System Strengthening at GHAI, Prof. Emmanuel Alhassan, said there is a significant gap in public financing for NCDs, noting that no funds were released for the diseases in 2025.

He expressed concern that the first quarter of 2026 was nearly over without clarity on funding, stressing the need to build the capacity of MDAs to advocate for the release of appropriated funds. “That is one of the reasons we are here, so that all the relevant MDAs can strengthen their capacity to advocate for fund releases after appropriations,” he said.

Alhassan warned that the rising burden of NCDs demands urgent action, noting that the diseases now account for about one-third of deaths in Nigeria, up from one-fifth in previous estimates.

He cited gaps in service delivery, recalling that while the Federal Government procured glucometers for primary healthcare centres across the 774 local government areas in 2024, coverage remained inadequate.

He added that the workshop also aims to review the current NCD-MSAP and lay the groundwork for a new five-year plan, with a focus on building a robust advocacy framework for sustainable financing.

National Coordinator of the NCD Division at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Alayo Sopekan, noted that although the government has introduced taxes on alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, and tobacco since 2015, the proceeds are not being channelled toward addressing NCDs.

“These taxes are meant to generate revenue and reduce consumption, but some of us are saying a portion, perhaps even one per cent, should be reinvested in tackling the NCDs they cause,” he said.

Sopekan observed that while funding for communicable diseases remains relatively strong, support for NCD prevention, control, and management is limited, with fewer development partners willing to commit resources. “Government is providing some funding, but it is very low. Yet, early detection and prevention are critical in managing non-communicable diseases,” he added.

Team Lead, Health Sector and Human Capital Development at the Budget and Planning Office of the Federation, Marcel Sati, stressed the importance of domestic resource mobilisation and innovative financing.

He noted that as global health financing shifts away from donor dependence, Nigeria must adopt strategies agreed at African leadership platforms, focusing on mobilising domestic resources through innovative mechanisms.

Policy and Advocacy Officer at LISDEL, Olympus Adebanjo, highlighted poor alignment between MDAs’ budgets and the NCD-MSAP, with some agencies achieving as little as 23 per cent alignment.

“About 45 per cent of MSAP activities receive no allocation at all, and even where funds are budgeted, they are often not clearly identifiable,” he said.

Adebanjo also pointed to weak budget releases, sometimes as low as 17 per cent as a major constraint, undermining critical interventions such as screening, awareness campaigns, and preventive programmes.

He emphasised the need for a multi-sectoral approach, urging sectors beyond health, including finance, education, environment, and infrastructure, to play active roles in addressing NCDs. “NCDs now account for about one-third of deaths in Nigeria. This trend requires urgent and coordinated action,” he said.