The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced significant progress in Nigeria’s health sector, revealing that more than 23,000 additional frontline health workers were trained in 2025.
The update was contained in the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released on Saturday in Abuja.
According to the report, the newly trained personnel bring the total number of frontline health workers trained within the last two years to 78,146, as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
The initiative forms part of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, which coordinate investments and reforms within the health sector.
The report noted that the training represents a major step toward achieving the Federal Government’s target of training 120,000 health workers, particularly to improve services at primary healthcare centres.
“The trained frontline health workers represent 65 per cent of the federal government’s target of 120,000, with the aim of strengthening service delivery, particularly at primary healthcare facilities,” the report stated.
The ministry also reported improvements in health insurance coverage nationwide.
According to the document, the number of Nigerians covered by health insurance increased from 19.2 million in 2024 to 21.7 million in 2025, representing about 13 per cent national coverage.
“The government secured a presidential commitment for the full implementation of mandatory health insurance,” the report said.
It added that payments under the health insurance scheme had been adjusted to reflect economic realities.
“Capitation and fee-for-service payments were raised by 93 per cent and 378 per cent respectively to reflect prevailing economic realities and ensure sustainability of care,” the report noted.
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund 2.0, launched in October 2025 with new operational and financial reforms, also recorded progress by enrolling about 2.7 million Nigerians by the fourth quarter of the year.
On maternal and newborn healthcare, the report disclosed that agreements were signed with more than 200 health facilities to expand access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care for vulnerable women.
“CEmONC services reached 19,270 women nationwide, with 20,486 claims reimbursed to 186 facilities, while 242 facilities across the country were empanelled under the maternal component,” the report stated.
The neonatal care component of the programme was also introduced in seven facilities in Kano and Lagos in September 2025.
The ministry further disclosed that emergency medical response systems were strengthened nationwide, with State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems responding to 26,431 maternal emergencies.
Additionally, the Rural Emergency Services for Maternal and Newborn Transport initiative supported 34,331 pregnant women and newborns across 124 local government areas in the country.
