The Federal Government has expressed concern over shifts in the global health funding landscape, stressing the need for Nigeria to assume greater responsibility for financing and managing the health of its citizens.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, stated this while receiving the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Felix Costales Artieda, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the ministry.

Salako noted that Nigeria is currently implementing health sector reforms under the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, aimed at strengthening governance, improving service delivery and enhancing domestic health financing.

He described concerns over declining or shifting global health funding as legitimate, but emphasised that Nigeria must not rely solely on external partners for the health of its population.

“The concern with the changes around global health funding is legitimate, and Nigeria is also concerned. But we realise that we cannot be dependent on anybody for the health of our citizens. We must take responsibility and be in the driver’s seat. That is the direction the government is taking the health sector,” he said.

The minister added that the meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to revisit the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2022, with a view to operationalising key components, particularly around technology transfer.

According to him, technology transfer aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to unlock the healthcare value chain, driven by the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which promotes local manufacturing of medical products.

Salako also highlighted government efforts to address obstetric fistula and gynaecological conditions through the establishment of specialised institutions and the provision of free treatment and social reintegration services for affected women.

“Nigeria is happy with this initiative to strengthen and revitalise our relationship and health system. We welcome it and will do everything possible to promote that partnership and ensure more efficient collaboration,” he added.

Earlier, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Mr Anton Leis, said Spain supports several multilateral health initiatives in Nigeria. He disclosed that the agency has partnered with UNFPA to combat harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and to support polio eradication efforts.

Leis stated that Spain is also collaborating with UNICEF and the European Union to promote efficiency in Nigeria’s health system.

He commended Nigeria’s sector-wide approach model, describing it as fundamental to achieving efficiency. “We believe in that model — one plan, one budget, one important area,” he said.

According to him, the agency is working with key institutions, including the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the Resilient Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, to strengthen regulatory systems and pharmaceutical development.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Daju Kachollom, noted that Nigeria and Spain have maintained longstanding bilateral relations, recalling that both countries signed Memoranda of Understanding in 2022 and 2025 to deepen collaboration in the health sector.