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 the World Health Organisation’s 2030 targets.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the 2026 yearly 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 utilised 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 $1 million in domestic resources to unlock approximately $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.