The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing primary healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.
This reaffirmation was made on Friday, through the launching of some set of strategic tools, reports and platforms, during the closing day of the 3-day 2025 Joint Annual Review (JAR) Conference held at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate said the set of strategic tools will strengthen the implementation of our national policies in the health sector.
Prof. Pate stated that the tools will respond directly to some of our highest priorities, as well as reflect the government’s unwavering commitment to healthcare service delivery.
“As we launch the set of strategic tools, reports and platforms, it will strengthen the implementation of our national priorities.
“These products, we have heard from the esteemed panelists, reflect our commitment to transparency, to data-driven accountability, use of evidence for actions, and getting to the results that matter for our people.
“We are learning as we go, and we continue to take this approach to learn and share those lessons within the country. The tools directly respond to some of our highest priorities, as we have heard,” he said.
On data strengthening and digital transformation, Prof. Pate disclosed that the various tools have been codified so that people can review them.
According to him, the tools provide evidence, “hopefully more clarity operationally, and a mechanism for accountability, so that we can sustain the progress that we are beginning to make.”
He emphasized that without codifying these changes, it would be difficult to maintain certain standards. “Now, occasionally it would be a falter, but I hope that in many cases we will exceed those standards that we are putting in.”
Calling on the state governments to key into the tools, the Minister said, “And for the states, I encourage you to take those tools and also have them as reference materials.
“Electronically display them in your websites, use them in your platforms. Make sure your technical experts pick these documents, study them, put them to action, so they are not just on the shelves, but they are good reference materials that every state, every local government, practitioner must adopt and use.”
Prof. Pate, however, pledged to take responsibility should there be any error in the tools.
“I want to thank all those who contributed to these tools that we are launching. At the end of the day, as the Chief Health Officer, I take responsibility for all that is good in these tools. I think you can take the credit. But if there are any gaps or errors, I take responsibility, and I hope you will bear with me.”
Closing the Conference, the Minister stated, “In the last three days, we have reviewed progress, challenges and opportunities in the Nigeria health sector.
“We have been very candid with each other, we have made progress, but we also have some challenges. Today, we are beginning to shift from the review itself to lay the foundations for actions going forward.”
Abuja Times reports that the 2025 JAR which aims to assess progress, promote accountability, and drive sustainable health sector growth, started on Wednesday 12th November, and closed on Friday 14th November, 2025.