The Federal Government has secured a five-year support package worth nearly US$500 million from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to expand routine immunisation, strengthen vaccine delivery and improve primary healthcare services across Nigeria.
The package, which includes increased vaccine and cash allocations as well as reduced co-financing obligations to provide Nigeria with greater fiscal flexibility, was announced in Abuja during a meeting between the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and Gavi Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sania Nishtar, who led a high-level delegation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, senior ministry officials and the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina.
Prof. Pate described the proposed support as a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms and a significant boost to efforts aimed at expanding access to life-saving vaccines.
“The proposed support of almost US$500 million over the next five years speaks volumes. It gives us greater momentum to strengthen domestic financing, secure vaccines and ensure they reach every Nigerian child,” he said.
Pate said quarterly utilisation of Primary Healthcare Centres had risen from about 10 million visits to more than 40 million since Dr. Nishtar’s previous visit in 2023.
He added that the government had revitalised thousands of primary healthcare centres, improved routine immunisation and maternal and child health services, and successfully implemented the world’s largest measles-rubella vaccination campaign, protecting more than 102 million Nigerian children.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom described the visit as another milestone in the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and Gavi. She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing the leadership, coordination and stewardship required to translate the partnership into stronger immunisation systems, improved primary healthcare and better health outcomes for Nigerians.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Nishtar described Nigeria as Gavi’s second-largest country portfolio globally and its largest co-financing partner.
She announced an upward review of Nigeria’s vaccine and cash allocation alongside reduced co-financing obligations, saying the changes would provide greater fiscal flexibility for the country. She added that reforms under the Gavi 6.0 Strategy—including simplified processes, decentralised decision-making, digitised grant management and predictable five-year vaccine budgets—were introduced following feedback received during her 2023 visit to Nigeria.
“Gavi is here to signal that we are there for you. While many global health institutions are reducing their footprint, we will continue supporting Nigeria’s immunisation programme,” she said.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining progress in routine immunisation, accelerating polio eradication, expanding HPV vaccination, strengthening primary healthcare and increasing domestic investment to ensure every Nigerian child has access to life-saving vaccines and quality healthcare services.
The renewed partnership is expected to deepen Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms by expanding vaccine access, improving primary healthcare delivery and supporting the country’s transition towards greater domestic financing of immunisation programmes.
