President of the Pediatricians Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ekanem Ekure, has criticised the 4.3 per cent health allocation in the 2026 national budget, emphasising that it reflects a significant lack of investment in Nigerian children’s well-being.

Speaking at the PAN’s 57th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abeokuta, she called for urgent remediation and medical support for victims of the Ogijo lead poisoning crisis, primarily affecting children.

“Despite notable efforts, our country still grapples with high neonatal and under-five mortality rates of 41 and 110 per 1,000 live births, respectively, persistent malnutrition, suboptimal immunisation coverage, and inequitable access to quality child health services, among other challenges,” she said.

“While we appreciate the shutdown of offending factories, comprehensive remediation, medical intervention, regulatory enforcement, and national action to protect vulnerable children and safeguard their futures remain our demand, ” she said.
Ekure urged stronger regulatory actions to protect vulnerable children and highlighted the alarming rates of preventable childhood illnesses and mortality in Nigeria.

She also addressed issues such as child abuse, abductions, and the impact of poverty, conflict, and climate change on children’s rights. Ekure referenced Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3) and called for innovative funding models, including public-private partnerships and outcome-based financing linked to verified results.
“Although Nigeria’s national child health policies and strategies align with this goal, sadly, the country remains one of those considered off track in achieving it,” she said.

She further advocated for technology to enhance immunisation tracking, disease surveillance, and access to healthcare.
“To the Federal Government, our plea remains this: let there be clear evidence of strong political will that treats child health as a national development priority, not merely a sectoral issue,” she said. Finally, Ekure reaffirmed PAN’s commitment to partnerships that turn knowledge into actionable improvements in child health outcomes.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiaq Salako, represented by Deputy Director of Child Health, Dr. Omokore Oluseyi, highlighted the government’s commitment to reducing child mortality.

He announced the finalisation of the National Child Survival Action Plan, focusing on key interventions like newborn resuscitation and community-based management of childhood illnesses. To support these efforts, the ministry is digitalising the community management platform to enhance real-time diagnosis and data collection.