The Federal Government has set aside N700 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, malaria, and vaccination says the chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Dr. Amobi Ogah.
At the 2025 Pre-World TB Day press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Ogah made this statement.
To increase awareness of tuberculosis and to mobilise initiatives, such as governmental commitment to resources and healthcare finance for TB towards eradication, World TB Day is observed on March 24 of each year.
The theme for this year is “Yes! Commit, invest, and deliver, and we can eradicate tuberculosis.
TB is an airborne disease caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that affects mostly the lungs. It is a leading cause of death in Nigeria, ranking the sixth highest burden country across the world, and first in Africa. The 2024 World Health Organisation Global TB report revealed Nigeria is among the 30 high-burden countries for TB, HIV-associated TB, and drug-resistant TB, and it recorded approximately 467,000 TB cases in 2023.
Ogah said, “I must commend the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu for injecting the whooping sum of N700bn for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and immunisation. This was made possible with the help of our minister who is so dear to this country who believes that we can achieve it.”
The allocation is coming in the wake of the US administration’s withdrawal of financial support to HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria in Nigeria.
“The House Committee on HIV, AIDS, TB, and Malaria Control will continue to provide legislative mechanisms and interventions to support the fight against TB in Nigeria,” he highlighted while adding that the committee called on the government to advocate to the Global Fund for an increase in the global TB funding allocation from 18 per cent to 30 per cent.
“We have also concluded plans to pass a law that will protect persons affected by TB from discrimination and stigmatisation. We will also ensure robust oversight of all MDAs and key stakeholders, in accordance with the responsibilities of implementing programmes aimed at combating HIV, AIDS, TB and malaria control in our dear country.
“The committee on HIV will ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of these funds to ensure that funds made for interventions and programmes are judiciously spent and not mismanaged. I want to assure you that we in the committee will continue to champion increase on domestic funding, that is the key,” he noted.
In her welcome remarks, the Acting Board Chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, said despite advancements in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention, the disease persists, particularly affecting the vulnerable and underserved populations.
She, however, noted that there is hope for the country to eliminate TB.
“With the unwavering commitment of healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates alongside innovations such as shorter treatment regimens and digital adherence technologies, we are closer than ever to eliminating TB,” she added.
She further stated that Stop TB Partnership Nigeria has achieved significant milestones through dedicated advocacy and collaboration with both state and non-state actors.
“Our advocacy for increased resources, health policy reforms, and service integration for TB in Nigeria remains unwavering. We will continue to push for a Nigeria free of tuberculosis through our strategies – high-level advocacy, collaboration and partnership, capacity building, and research and information dissemination.
“As we all know, in light of the dwindling donor support, we need to intensify our advocacy for domestic resources for TB now than ever.
“I encourage everyone to use their voices to support this cause. Let us work together, push for stronger policies, advocate for more domestic resources, and drive initiatives that focus on TB prevention, detection, and treatment,” she said.
Through the careful application of the WHO-recommended strategies, the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme, in partnership with its partners, has made strides in the fight against TB in Nigeria, according to Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“The country had its highest-ever TB notification of more than 400,000 TB cases identified in 2024 out of the estimated 506,000 Nigerians with TB. This translated to about 79 per cent treatment coverage and deserves commendation. Similarly, we have made good progress in TB notification among children, increasing from just 8,293 in 2018 to about 43,000 children treated with TB in 2024,” he noted.
He, however, emphasised that despite the achievements, there is still a significant number of missing TB cases that constitute a reservoir for ongoing transmission of TB.
“It will interest you to know that one untreated TB patient is capable of infecting 15 other persons in a year. A more worrisome trend is the suboptimal enrollment of diagnosed drug-resistant TB patients on treatment in the last five years.
“In line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative – the strategic blueprint for the health sector – and the TB National Strategic Plan 2021 – 2026, we have intensified efforts to further strengthen TB screening, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive services nationwide.
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“Let me reassure you that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, remains committed to achieving the global End TB targets set by the WHO,” he said.
He emphasised that the government prioritises a number of initiatives, including integrating TB services into Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition and other related services; enhancing community engagement; raising awareness and lowering the stigma associated with TB; and utilising digital health solutions.
