The Federal Government has called on state governments to mobilise domestic resources to raise $1 million required to unlock approximately $7 million in external funding for Nigeria’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) elimination programme in 2027.

The funding opportunity under the Reaching the Last Mile Fund is expected to support Nigeria’s efforts to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases, as the country works towards World Health Organisation’s 2030 targets.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2026 Annual High-Level Advocacy Meeting on NTDs, themed “Translating Commitments into Budgetary Action.”

The meeting brought together health commissioners and their representatives, government officials, legislators, development partners and implementing organisations to discuss strategies for translating commitments into concrete budgetary action.

Salako, who was represented by the Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr Charles Nzelu, urged state governments to translate their commitments to NTD elimination into dedicated budget lines, adequate allocations and timely release of funds.

He said Nigeria had recorded significant progress in tackling the diseases through collaboration among federal and state governments, health workers, communities and development partners, but warned that sustaining the gains would require greater domestic ownership and financing.

According to him, establishing budget lines for NTDs is only the beginning, as approved allocations must be released and effectively utilized to deliver measurable public health outcomes.

He said: “The Federal Government cannot achieve NTD elimination alone. Neither can the States. And we cannot expect our development partners to indefinitely carry responsibilities that must increasingly be owned and financed domestically.

“This does not diminish the importance of partnership. On the contrary, stronger domestic investment enables us to make better use of the resources and opportunities provided by our partners.

“A particularly important opportunity before us is the Reaching the Last Mile Fund. Under this financing arrangement, Nigeria is required to mobilise US$1 million in domestic resources to unlock approximately US$7 million from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund for the National NTD Programme in 2027.”

The minister urged states that had established dedicated NTD budget lines to sustain and increase their allocations, while encouraging those yet to do so to incorporate the programme into their 2027 planning and budgeting cycle.

Salako said the federal government would strengthen domestic financing, improve coordination and ensure that available resources were directed towards interventions with the greatest public health impact.

He added, “An allocation without release cannot reach communities. And released funds must be effectively utilised to produce measurable public health results.”

He also called on health commissioners to engage their counterparts in finance, budget and planning to ensure that approved funds were released for implementation.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Amos Magaji, identified poor budget releases as a major challenge to effective healthcare delivery.

Magaji said the National Assembly and the executive had responsibilities to ensure adequate budgetary allocations and timely releases for NTD programmes.

He called for the prioritisation of funding for the diseases, including efforts to treat such allocations as a first-line charge.

The lawmaker also advocated the inclusion of NTD treatment in health insurance coverage to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for affected persons, particularly those in rural communities.

He said: “Primary healthcare must become the hospital of the present and the future, effective primary healthcare delivery is essential to reducing Nigeria’s disease burden.”

In his remarks, a former Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services in the 8th Assembly, Hon. Usman Mohammed, called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, legislators, development partners and other stakeholders to secure sustainable funding for NTD elimination.

Mohammed noted that representatives of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside legislators and development organisations, had an important role to play in mobilising resources and supporting elimination efforts.

Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases in Nigeria, Adebayo Peters, said the country was making progress towards the WHO’s 2030 targets, particularly in tackling trachoma, lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.

Peters said Nigeria was addressing between 10 and 14 NTDs, out of approximately 21 recognised globally, with some treatable through the administration of medicines and others requiring long-term management because of the complications they cause.

He attributed the progress recorded to government interventions and the support of international and local implementing partners.

The coordinator said the meeting was convened to explore ways of increasing domestic contributions and strengthening government ownership of NTD programmes, despite continued support from development partners.

He added that medicines for treating most NTDs were donated and distributed free of charge, although delays in regulatory processes, including the clearance of medicines by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, could occasionally pose challenges.

Peters also highlighted government efforts to improve access to snakebite treatment, noting that antivenom was provided free of charge at designated treatment centres.

He said the federal government committed more than N450 million last year to procure antivenom for distribution to states, while Kano State had committed more than N100 million towards its procurement.

According to him, the government had also opened about four snakebite treatment centres in Benue State to improve access to emergency care.

Peters said sustained domestic financing would help Nigeria consolidate existing gains, expand interventions and accelerate progress towards eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2030.