Nigeria contributes about 14 per cent of global maternal deaths and nine per cent of global under-five deaths, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako said on Thursday.
He spoke during his inaugural address at the second day of the 2025 Joint Annual Review (JAR) Meeting in Abuja, with the theme, “All hands, one mission: Bringing Nigeria’s health sector to light.”
Salako said, although there had been significant improvements in the health sector but the progress is still insufficient for a nation of huge population.
The Minister while quoting the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey preliminary results, said, “Maternal Mortality Ratio stands at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births (down from 576 in 2018); Under-five mortality rate stands at 110 deaths per 1,000 live births (a reduction from 132 in 2018); neonatal mortality is at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“The Skilled Birth Attendance is up from 43 per cent in 2018 to 53 per cent; full immunisation coverage at 39 per cent is an improvement from 31 per cent in 2018; and Modern Contraceptive Prevalence is at 20 per cent among currently married women.
“Nigeria still accounts for approximately 14 per cent of global maternal deaths and nine per cent of global under-five deaths, despite representing only 2.6 per cent of the world’s population,” he emphasised.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu is implementing coordinated programmes and reforms to reverse these trends and strengthen the nation’s health system.
According to him, “The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, fully aware of these challenges, is making concerted efforts in partnership with state and local governments, development partners, and civil society to accelerate progress and deliver a health system that will optimally serve all Nigerians.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving health financing, expanding insurance coverage, and addressing workforce shortages.
“Too many mothers still die in childbirth, too many children don’t reach their fifth birthday, and too many families are impoverished by healthcare costs
“Health system resilience is not built overnight. It requires sustained investment, political will, technical excellence, community ownership, and accountability,” he said.
He urged all stakeholders in the sector to renew their commitment to health system strengthening to ensure progress toward universal health coverage.
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