Bukola Afeni
The Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, said the Federal Government has allocated 700 billion Naira for HIV, TB, Malaria, and Nutrition programs in the country.
He disclosed this at the 2025 Pre-World TB Day Press Conference in Abuja.
Hon. Amobi noted that the investment in the health sector is coming at a time when funds are scarce from the United States Government.
“This is a great development for the country, and we are excited that our people will feel the great impact in the health sector.”
He further added that the parliamentarians are also calling on the Federal Government to establish a private-sector Trust Fund for TB.
In the same vein, he noted that the Federal Government is concluding a plan to protect persons living with TB from discrimination.
“We will establish a committee to end HIV/AIDS and TB. We need to sit up and take responsibility. We can end TB if we invest, commit, and deliver.”
The Acting Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Queen Ogbuji Ladipo, highlighted the need to advocate for more domestic resources and drive resources necessary for TB prevention.
“We are urging all advocates to intensify their efforts in getting resources earmarked for TB prevention. We need more awareness creation in terms of domestic resources mobilization.”
She added that the theme for the 2025 World TB Day is “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, and Deliver”.
According to her, the theme underscores the urgent need for global action, political will, and sustained investment to eliminate TB.
“It reinforces the call that ending TB is achievable through a collaborative effort and commitment from government, communities, private sector organizations, and all stakeholders.”
The Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, explained that the Federal Government has intensified efforts to further strengthen TB screening, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive services across the country.
“This is in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the strategic blueprint for the health sector, and the TB National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2021-2026.”
He added that the country had its highest-ever TB notification of more than 400,000 TB cases identified in 2024, out of the estimated 506,000 Nigerians with TB.
“This translated to about 79% treatment coverage and deserves commendation. Similarly, we have made good progress in TB notification among children, increasing from just 8,293 in 2018 to about 43,000 children treated with TB in 2024.”
World TB Day is commemorated on the 24th of March every year to raise awareness globally of the burden of TB, its prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and care, and to mobilise efforts, including political commitment to resources and health care financing for TB towards its elimination.
