Nigeria Needs $1bn Over Five Years To Sustain Immunisation Efforts — NPHCDA

Nigeria requires at least $1 billion over the next five years to maintain its current momentum in immunisation, according to the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina.

Speaking at the Multi-Stakeholders’ Technical Workshop on Optimising a Sustainable Immunisation Financing Model in Abuja on Wednesday, Aina highlighted funding shortfalls as a key threat to Nigeria’s public health achievements.

Despite recent milestones reaching three million zero-dose children, administering 91 million vaccine doses, and vaccinating 14 million girls against cervical cancer—Aina warned that only 21% of the 2024 budget allocated for vaccines had been disbursed.

“With less than a quarter of this year’s vaccine funding released, we risk losing the progress we’ve made. We need $1 billion to sustain immunisation efforts over the next five years,” he said.

He emphasized that immunisation should not be viewed as the Federal Government’s burden alone, but a collective national responsibility. “Immunisation is a duty to our children, families, and the future of our health system,” Aina stated.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from across the health sector to develop a sustainable financing strategy, particularly as Nigeria begins transitioning from Gavi, the global vaccine alliances support.

Nigeria’s immunisation funding model is a shared responsibility among federal, state, and local governments, with the Federal Government taking the lead through vaccine procurement co-financed by NPHCDA.

However, Aina noted that to close looming funding gaps, Nigeria must explore new financing models, including dedicated taxes and innovative funding mechanisms, while ensuring efficient allocation of existing resources toward primary healthcare and preventive services.

Discussions at the workshop also stressed the need for stronger domestic resource mobilisation, enhanced accountability systems, and deeper collaboration among all tiers of government.

Participants underscored that sustainable immunisation funding will require a multi-sectoral approach involving public investment, private sector participation, community support, and legal protections.

Without adequate and consistent funding, experts warned, even the most effective vaccines may not reach the populations that need them most.