By ifeoma Onyekachi

Nigeria is repositioning its healthcare system toward self-reliance, with a renewed focus on domestic funding and balanced international collaboration, the Federal Government has said.

Speaking at a high-level health security dialogue in Abuja with the People’s Republic of China, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, outlined the country’s roadmap to achieving health sovereignty while maintaining constructive global partnerships.

Pate noted that although decades of international assistance have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s health sector, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities and the dangers of over-reliance on external funding.

According to him, the responsibility for delivering healthcare services including the management of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis ultimately rests with national governments rather than foreign donors.

“You cannot outsource your health system or depend indefinitely on external taxpayers for critical health services,” he said, stressing the need for sustained local investment.

The minister disclosed that Nigeria is working toward phasing out dependency on foreign health financing by 2030, with plans to progressively increase budgetary allocations from both federal and state governments.

He emphasised that efficient utilisation of domestic resources could yield outcomes comparable to donor funding, while strengthening accountability, equity, and national ownership of health programmes.

Pate also reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to international cooperation, noting that partnerships with countries and institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia including China remain vital, provided they are anchored on mutual respect and alignment with Nigeria’s legal and policy frameworks.

Reflecting on evolving global health financing dynamics, he said the country is charting a new course that prioritises leadership, strategic investment, and equitable engagement with international stakeholders.

He added that Nigeria remains committed to global solidarity, extending cooperation to partners willing to collaborate in strengthening health security and addressing shared challenges.

“We are building a system that not only serves Nigerians but contributes meaningfully to global health resilience,” he said.