By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government has approved a major community health intervention programme aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards through a new Community-Based National Social Action Fund Taskforce.
The initiative, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is designed to bring healthcare services closer to communities by funding ward-level health and nutrition interventions implemented through verified local organisations.
Under the framework, each ward will be supported to implement priority health-related projects of up to ₦50 million, focusing on improving access to essential health services, nutrition support, and basic health infrastructure.
The reform builds on the Social Action Fund introduced in 2023 and a Community-Based Procurement Platform approved in January 2026, both aimed at improving grassroots service delivery.
To support implementation, a Programme Management Unit will be domiciled in the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, with project execution scheduled from March to December 2026.
The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation have also been directed to release ₦17 billion into a ring-fenced special intervention account to support monitoring, accountability, and communication of health interventions.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the initiative represents a shift toward community-led healthcare delivery, placing emphasis on preventive and primary health systems.
According to him, interventions will include community nutrition programmes, provision of essential health commodities such as micronutrients and therapeutic foods, as well as upgrades to primary healthcare facilities, schools, and sanitation systems.
He said the approach will help reduce health inequities by ensuring that each community identifies and addresses its most pressing health challenges directly.
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The Taskforce will be chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and includes key officials from the Ministries of Finance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Health, as well as the Budget Office and anti-corruption agencies to ensure accountability.
In a related development, the Federal Government also approved the upgrade of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre (NTBLTC), Zaria, into the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases.
The new institute will strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and public health workforce training, serving as a national hub for infectious disease preparedness and response under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
