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President Bola Tinubu has pledged to raise the annual budgetary allocation to the health sector to 10 percent by 2024, with the possibility of further increases if the funds are utilized responsibly. This commitment was made public by Salma Ibrahim-Anas, the special adviser to the president on health, during a health summit focused on healthcare financing through policies like taxing sugary drinks. The summit, organized by Gatefield in collaboration with the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition and the World Bank in Abuja, addressed the need to enhance healthcare funding in Nigeria.

Ibrahim-Anas expressed concern about Nigeria’s current health budget allocation, which stands at less than five percent. She emphasized that health and healthcare financing would be a top priority under the leadership of President Tinubu.

The special adviser revealed that Tinubu plans to start with allocating ten percent of the total budget to the health sector, but this is just the initial step. If the government demonstrates effective utilization and accountability of these funds, the allocation will likely increase further. The president challenges the administration to prove their capacity in this regard and assures them of his support in mobilizing additional resources when needed.

Furthermore, the government plans to double the number of primary healthcare centers from one per ward to two per ward. Ibrahim-Anas stressed that Nigeria’s current financing levels are insufficient to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage, where every Nigerian has access to quality and affordable healthcare services through primary, secondary, and tertiary health centers.

To generate additional revenue for healthcare, the government will explore innovative fiscal strategies, with sugar taxes being one potential source of funding. Ibrahim-Anas assured that the revenue from these taxes would be primarily dedicated to health initiatives. She also highlighted the excessive consumption of sugar drinks in Nigeria, contributing to non-communicable diseases that account for nearly 29 percent of deaths.

The health summit united stakeholders and experts to advocate for a pro-health tax policy agenda, particularly focusing on utilizing sugar tax revenue for healthcare purposes. President Tinubu has temporarily suspended the implementation of taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages until September.

Adewumi Emorura, the lead strategist at Gatefield, emphasized the need to prioritize people over profit, calling for increased funding to improve healthcare delivery. He pointed out the significant health issues, including diabetes and obesity, affecting millions of Nigerians, which require substantial funding for intervention.

Adamu Umar, president and co-chair of the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition, praised President Tinubu’s commitment to increasing the health budget. The coalition advocates for a 20 percent increase in taxes on sugary drinks, with the revenue dedicated to health and nutrition initiatives.