The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving access to oral healthcare, with plans to reach at least three million Nigerians through expanded services and awareness campaigns, as the country marked World Oral Health Day 2026.

Speaking during a commemorative event in Abuja yesterday, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, noted that oral diseases continue to pose a serious but often overlooked threat to national development.

Represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr Abisola Adegoke, the minister warned that poor oral health has far-reaching consequences.

“Oral diseases have impacted negatively on children’s growth, adult productivity and the nation’s progress,” he said.

He described the 2026 theme, “A happy mouth is a happy life,” as a call to action for Nigerians to adopt preventive oral health practices.

The minister disclosed that the government has begun integrating oral healthcare into primary healthcare systems to improve access, especially in underserved communities.

He added that community health workers are now being equipped to identify and refer serious conditions.

Salako further highlighted ongoing collaborations with development partners, including the World Health Organisation and Médecins Sans Frontières, to tackle neglected oral diseases.

Commending the Nigerian Dental Association, he said its outreach programmes have already reached over 2.4 million Nigerians nationwide.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, emphasised that most oral diseases are preventable but often neglected.

Represented by the Director of Dental Services, Dr Gloria Uzoigwe, she said: “Most preventable oral diseases are often ignored until they become a burden to manage. Common dental diseases are preventable if we take shared responsibility to promote healthy habits.”

In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwa, represented by Dr Uchenna Ekwenibe, said oral health goes beyond disease prevention.