FG approves N40.76bn health fund in Q3, extends insurance to 90,000 inmates
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Federal Government has approved a ₦40.76 billion disbursement under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the third quarter of 2026, representing an increase of approximately ₦7.88 billion over the previous quarter’s allocation of ₦32.88 billion.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the decision in Abuja following the 16th meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee on the BHCPF.
The exact figure approved according to a statement obtained from the Presidency on Friday is ₦40,758,116,943.50.
“The decisions reinforce the Federal Government’s commitment to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare, particularly for poor, vulnerable and underserved populations, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII),” Pate said.
The funds will be shared across the four statutory gateways: the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) will receive ₦19.87 billion (48.75 per cent), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) ₦18.34 billion (45 per cent), Emergency Medical Treatment ₦2.04 billion (5 per cent), and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) ₦509.48 million (1.25 per cent).
A key highlight is the extension of health insurance coverage to inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities.
About 90,000 prisoners will now be covered under the Vulnerable Group Fund through the NHIA, excluding those already enrolled in state schemes.
Officials noted that this addresses longstanding challenges in accessing healthcare for this group.
The government also plans to onboard an additional 5,000 to 5,212 primary healthcare facilities, raising the total number of facilities supported under the BHCPF to around 13,000 or more.
Selection will prioritise equity factors such as disease burden, population distribution, and distance to existing services.
The BHCPF was established under Section 11 of the National Health Act 2014.
It provides catalytic funding for a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services, strengthens primary healthcare delivery, and supports vulnerable populations, including children under five, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and prisoners.
Funding comes primarily from at least one per cent of the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, supplemented by donor contributions.
Monthly statutory releases into the Fund have risen significantly from around ₦8.95 billion earlier to ₦13.08 billion and later ₦20.43 billion reflecting higher government revenues following macroeconomic reforms under the current administration.
