A new report released by the Federal Government shows that maternal, newborn and child health outcomes improved significantly in 2025, with skilled birth attendance rising to 86.3 per cent and facility-based maternal deaths declining from 904 to 460.

According to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, the improvement reflects expanded access to skilled care, strengthened referral systems and the scale-up of emergency obstetric services across the country.

The report also revealed that the National Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) programme expanded nationwide in 2025, with more than 20,000 women receiving CEmONC services. A total of 242 facilities were empanelled across the 36 states and Abuja, while neonatal CEmONC services were introduced in selected facilities.

The assessment provides a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s health system performance in 2025 in line with the statutory provisions of the National Health Act. It builds on the 2024 edition and tracks progress under the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative implemented through a sector-wide approach coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The report noted that 2025 marked a turning point in Nigeria’s health reform agenda, characterised by strengthened governance, revitalised primary healthcare, improved health security preparedness and measurable gains in maternal and child health indicators.

However, it was observed that Nigeria’s large and rapidly growing population continues to exert pressure on health services. Although healthcare utilisation increased significantly in 2025, disparities remain across geography, income, gender, disability status and age groups. Vulnerable populations, including women, children, adolescents, persons with disabilities and the elderly, remain disproportionately affected by preventable illness and mortality.

Emergency response systems supported 26,431 obstetric emergencies through the SEMSAS platform and 34,331 women and newborns through RESMAT across 124 MAMII local government areas.

The report further indicated that Penta-3 immunisation coverage reached more than 2.12 million children. Despite this progress, only about 20 per cent of children are fully immunised, while approximately 30 per cent remain zero-dose and highlighting persistent inequities in immunisation coverage.

It also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing epidemiological transition, with rising non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancers driven by urbanisation, demographic changes and lifestyle factors, alongside continued infectious disease burdens.

Nigeria’s HIV response maintained high treatment coverage above 87 per cent and viral suppression above 95 per cent, contributing to continued reductions in new infections.

Cancer care also recorded improvements in 2025, with enhanced diagnostic capacity, increased availability of therapeutics and expansion of treatment centres across geopolitical zones following increased policy attention and targeted investments.

Primary healthcare emerged as the backbone of service delivery during the year. Utilisation increased dramatically from 15.1 million visits in 2024 to 170.8 million visits in 2025, driven by reforms under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0), workforce expansion, facility upgrades and strengthened emergency referral systems.

Through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, 1,965 primary healthcare centres achieved Level 2 functionality, enabling 24-hour service delivery and safer childbirth.

Health workforce development also accelerated in 2025, with an additional 23,000 frontline health workers trained.

This brings the total trained between 2024 and 2025 to 78,146, representing about 65 per cent of the national target of 120,000 workers.

The report noted that BHCPF 2.0, launched in October 2025, introduced operational reforms and enrolled about 2.7 million Nigerians by the end of the year. Health insurance coverage increased from 19.2 million people in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, representing a 13 per cent increase largely driven by state social health insurance agencies and enrolment through the BHCPF gateway.

Despite the gains, the report emphasised that coverage remains below national targets for universal health coverage. It also highlighted increased donor health expenditure in 2025 but warned about uncertainties surrounding the sustainability and predictability of external financing, underscoring the need for stronger domestic resource mobilisation and improved efficiency.

Commenting on the report, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said it provides a panoramic view of the country’s health sector performance by analysing data from the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the report examines key indicators such as budgetary allocations, fund releases to the health sector, insurance coverage and outcomes of major public health initiatives.

“The year under review is not without challenges, but the government’s commitment to prioritising healthcare remains firm,” he said, noting that the sector is implementing initiatives to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing and remove import duties on essential medicines and medical consumables to reduce costs and improve access.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Health, Adekunle Salako, said the reforms have strengthened transparency and accountability in the health system.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom, attributed the progress recorded to strong leadership within the ministry and collaboration with the National Council on Health, state commissioners for health, development partners and other stakeholders working to expand equitable, accessible and affordable healthcare services for Nigerians.