CAPPA Urges Overhaul of Nigerian Health Financing Amid Chronic Underfunding and Rising Non-Communicable Diseases

CAPPA urges the Nigerian government to address chronic health underfunding and implement a 50% sugar-tax to combat rising non-communicable diseases.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 7:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEADERSHIP

A Call for Action on World Health Day

As the global community observes World Health Day 2026 under the theme "Together for health: Stand with science," Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has issued a stern demand for the Nigerian government to transition from rhetoric to concrete action. The organization expressed deep concern over the persistent underfunding and policy deficiencies that continue to undermine the nation's health infrastructure. CAPPA argues that without a fundamental shift in how health is financed and regulated, millions of Nigerians will remain vulnerable to preventable crises.

The Crisis of Budget Implementation and Releases

One of the most significant hurdles facing Nigeria’s health sector is the discrepancy between approved budgets and actual fund releases. Citing data from the Budget Office of the Federation, CAPPA noted that health allocations consistently fall below the 15% Abuja Declaration target. In a startling disclosure, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare revealed that as of early 2026, it could not implement its 2025 capital budget because only N36 million had been released out of an allocated N218 billion. This follows a trend from 2024, where only approximately 11% of approved capital funds were made available.

Combating the Silent Epidemic of Diet-Related Diseases

The funding shortfall has direct consequences on public health, manifesting in overstretched facilities and a worsening health workforce crisis. CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, now account for nearly 29% of annual deaths in Nigeria. The group maintains that the current health system is ill-equipped to handle this rising burden, which is largely driven by unhealthy food environments and the excessive consumption of salt, sugar, and trans fats.