Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to regional health solidarity, calling for stronger collaboration, political will, and a shift toward community-led health systems across West Africa.
Speaking at the 26th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers held in Praia, Cape Verde, on Friday, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, urged regional leaders to confront shared public health challenges head-on.
This is according to a statement on Monday by Deputy Director, Press & Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare Alaba Balogun.
“This Assembly comes at a crucial time,” Dr. Salako said. “Our systems are under strain. Yet, amid these challenges, there are opportunities to rethink, reimagine, and reinvigorate our healthcare systems.”
He highlighted persistent regional health issues such as high maternal and child mortality, unequal access to healthcare, and the growing migration of health professionals to Europe and America.
The minister drew attention to the session’s theme, “Community Health Principles and Standards,” describing it as a timely nod to the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration. He called for a shift from fragmented healthcare approaches to integrated, people-centred primary health care systems.

Outlining Nigeria’s current health reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Dr. Salako cited the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) as a transformative plan to revitalize 17,000 Primary Health Centres by 2027. Nearly 50,000 frontline health workers have already been trained, with the target set at 120,000.
In a move toward health independence, he announced the allocation of $200 million in domestic resources to offset reduced external funding for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs. He also unveiled a new Presidential Executive Order to eliminate tariffs on medical inputs, aimed at boosting local pharmaceutical production.
“Health is not just a national issue; it is regional and global, invoking lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “If everyone is not safe, nobody is safe.”
Dr. Salako further emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and praised the recent policy granting financial autonomy to local governments, designed to strengthen the governance of Primary Health Centres.
Concluding his address, he urged fellow ministers to move beyond rhetoric. “Let this Assembly be remembered not only for dialogue, but for purpose, vision, and action,” he declared.
The session brought together health ministers from across the ECOWAS region to discuss pressing health concerns, share best practices, and strategize on regional healthcare priorities.