Nigeria spends $280m on immunisation, plans $539m for HIV, malaria

The Federal Government says it is spending about $280 million on immunisation and plans another $539 million for tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV programmes across Nigeria.

The Special Assistant to the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr Ado Muhammad, disclosed this during a health financing panel at the 2026 Joint Annual Review in Abuja on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Muhammad said the scale of the financial commitments made it necessary for state governments to share responsibility for funding major health interventions and sustaining essential programmes across the country.

Muhammad said: “Now, those two vaccinations itself, we’re spending about $280 million on immunisation.

“Now, we are just taking on ATM, which is tuberculosis, malaria and HIV and that is going to cost the Federal Government of Nigeria $539 million.”

He said the federal government was exploring ways to encourage states to contribute financially towards the programmes, ensuring sustainable funding and shared responsibility across different levels of government.

Muhammad added: “So, ultimately, if we have to sustain funding for the sector, I think it’s right time that the subnational level also pick some of the bills.

“We are making a proposal, making a submission to the National Economic Council, because we need to sustain it. It is not just enough to allocate without release.”

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Muhammad said health financing should consider budget releases, expenditure and accountability, rather than focusing solely on approved allocations, emphasising the importance of translating appropriations into actual services and outcomes.

He urged state governments to ensure that appropriated health funds were released and spent appropriately, with measurable outcomes and accountability mechanisms to strengthen healthcare delivery and public confidence.

Muhammad added that the federal government had recorded its highest health sector budget allocations in three years, partly through alignment with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and Sector-Wide Approach.