Nigeria contributes about 14 per cent of global maternal deaths and nine per cent of under-five deaths worldwide, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has revealed.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the second day of the 2025 Joint Annual Review (JAR), Meeting of the Health Sector, the minister described the statistics as “deeply concerning,” stressing that the country’s progress, though visible, remains far below what is expected for a nation of its size and potential.
The meeting, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing Nigeria’s Health Sector to Light,” brought together policymakers, development partners, and civil society groups to review the nation’s health performance and strengthen accountability mechanisms.
A Nation Still Struggling Despite Gains
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has recorded some improvements in key health indicators over the past five years. According to preliminary results from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined from 576 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 512 in 2023.
Similarly, the Under-Five Mortality Rate dropped from 132 deaths per 1,000 live births to 110, while Neonatal Mortality now stands at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Other positive trends include increases in Skilled Birth Attendance, which rose from 43 per cent in 2018 to 53 per cent, and full immunisation coverage, which improved from 31 to 39 per cent. The use of modern contraceptives among married women also grew modestly to 20 per cent.
However, Dr. Salako cautioned that these gains remain inadequate.
“These figures show gradual progress, but they are not commensurate with the resources and aspirations of a nation like Nigeria,” he said. “Despite having only 2.6 per cent of the world’s population, we still account for 14 per cent of global maternal deaths and nine per cent of global under-five deaths.”
Persistent Burden of Maternal and Child Mortality
Maternal deaths — those caused by complications during pregnancy, childbirth, or within six weeks of delivery — remain one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges. Experts attribute the high death toll to limited access to skilled health professionals, poor infrastructure, inadequate emergency obstetric care, and delays in seeking or reaching care.
The situation is further compounded by childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea — preventable diseases that still claim thousands of young lives annually.
Dr. Salako acknowledged these challenges, noting that while health outcomes are improving, the pace of change must accelerate if Nigeria hopes to meet its national and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda
The minister reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the country’s health landscape through comprehensive reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
According to Salako, these programmes aim to build a resilient health system capable of delivering equitable, affordable, and high-quality care to every Nigerian.
“The government is making concerted efforts, in partnership with state and local governments, development partners, and civil society, to deliver a health system that truly works for all,” he stated.
He added that the administration is focusing on improving health financing, expanding insurance coverage, strengthening the health workforce, and enhancing accountability mechanisms across the sector.
“Too many mothers still die in childbirth, too many children never see their fifth birthday, and too many families are impoverished by healthcare costs,” the minister lamented.
“Health system resilience is not built overnight. It requires sustained investment, political will, technical excellence, and community ownership.”
A Call for Collective Action
Dr. Salako urged all stakeholders to recommit to universal health coverage (UHC) — ensuring that all Nigerians have access to quality health services without financial hardship.
The Joint Annual Review, convened each year by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, serves as a platform for evidence-based reflection and collaboration among partners. It evaluates progress made under the National Health Sector Strategic Development Plan (NHSDP), and outlines strategies for improvement.
As the 2025 review concludes, health experts are calling for greater investment in primary healthcare, stronger data systems, and more community-level interventions to tackle the root causes of maternal and child mortality.
For many Nigerians, the message from this year’s JAR is clear: progress is being made — but the pace must quicken if the country is to save the lives of its mothers and children and secure a healthier future.
