Get Guardian on Google…As Nigeria faces nationwide TB drug shortage
…Demands release of $54m pledged by FG
Nigeria’s fight against Tuberculosis (TB) is facing a dangerous setback, as a nationwide stock-out of essential TB drugs and diagnostic commodities , delayed government funding and persistent stigma threaten to undermine hard-won progress made in the country’s fight against the disease.
For thousands of Nigerians battling the disease, the shortage is more than a disruption in the health supply chain but a potentially life-threatening interruption of treatment that could lead to prolonged illness, increased transmission, drug resistance and preventable deaths.
To this end, the federal government has been urged to release the N72.5 billion ($54 million) earmarked since 2025 for the procurement of TB medicines and diagnostics.
Following the disruption caused by the US funding cut in February 2025, the federal government announced the approval of $200 million to close the gap in HIV, TB and Malaria but money is yet to be released more than one year after the approval was made.
Considering that early diagnosis and uninterrupted treatment remain critical to containing tuberculosis, stakeholders in the TB space warned that the reported depletion of essential medicines and commodities have dire implications on the country’s health security and for patients whose survival depends on taking their medication without interruption, the shortage could have devastating consequences adding that beyond the immediate threat to lives, the disruption risks fuelling further transmission, encouraging drug-resistant strains and pushing an already fragile TB response towards crisis.
Speaking at the training of journalists on DR-TB coverage organised by the COMBAT DR-TB Project of the Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria, TB Network, in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the TB Network, Olayide Akanni, expressed concern over what she described as an increasingly dangerous situation in which patients diagnosed with tuberculosis are struggling to access treatment, while those exposed to the disease are being left without preventive medication.
Akanni, who acknowledged the progress made in Nigeria’s TB response, warned that the gains could be reversed if the Federal Government fails to urgently address the shortage of medicines and fulfil its financial commitments to the national programme.
She identified the shortage of essential TB medicines as one of the most immediate threats confronting the national response, warning that available stocks may not last until December.
Akanni stated that three TB medications were experiencing nationwide stock-outs, while some states had gone almost two months without adequate supplies.
Akanni stated that said the situation had become so precarious that even newly diagnosed patients could no longer be assured of receiving immediate treatment.
According to her, medicines distributed to states were insufficient to meet the needs of newly diagnosed patients, leaving health workers struggling to manage cases despite the availability of diagnostic services.
Akanni also expressed concern over the stock out of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT), a critical intervention designed to protect people who have been exposed to TB, particularly close contacts of infectious patients and warned that the situation could leave vulnerable populations exposed to infection and increase the likelihood of new cases
She explained that while patients diagnosed with TB require treatment to recover and reduce the risk of transmitting the disease, their close contacts also need preventive therapy where indicated.
The absence of both interventions, she said, could create a dangerous cycle in which people already exposed to the disease are left untreated until they develop symptoms.
“Even if you are saying somebody has TB, let us place close contacts on TPT. There is no drug to do that.“So, as we are putting the person who has TB at risk without giving them treatment, we are also putting close contacts at risk because there is no TPT to give to them,” she said
According to her, the situation is particularly troubling because the consequences of failing to treat tuberculosis extend beyond the individual patient to family members, close contacts and the wider community.
She said the absence of preventive treatment for people exposed to TB could accelerate transmission and increase the number of people who eventually develop the disease
Akanni called on the government to release the $54 million reportedly pledged for TB medicines and diagnostics, insisting that the country could no longer afford to treat the disease as a peripheral public health concern.
She said, “The major issue now is that we don’t have drugs. And we risk an epidemic on our hands if the drug situation is not addressed. We know there has been a lot of progress in the TB response in Nigeria. But we’re losing a lot of lives unnecessarily because of the disease in Nigeria and we need to change that narrative,” .
Akanni pointed out that the funding commitment is particularly important at a time when international development partners were increasingly demanding greater domestic ownership of public health programmes.
According to her, the changing global funding environment means Nigeria must demonstrate stronger political commitment and take greater responsibility for financing its TB response.
“We really need to be asking the Honourable Minister of Health, where is the money that you promised for TB drugs and diagnostics for Nigeria? Last year, you promised $54 million was going to be committed to that,” she said.
Akanni alleged that although the Federal Executive Council reportedly announced the release of the funds around June or July, the agencies responsible for procuring medicines had yet to receive the money.
“In fact, earlier on in June or thereabout, or July, the Federal Executive Council said they have released the money. Up till now, the people who are supposed to procure drugs have not received any money,” she said.
She questioned whether the announced funding had translated into actual financial disbursements and procurement, warning that the continued delay was placing patients at risk.
“One year down the line, the funds have not come. The drugs have not been procured,” she added.
The coordinator said the procurement committee had been established, but the country was still experiencing challenges in planning and implementing treatment services.
