For decades, Nigeria’s development landscape has been littered with white-elephant projects. From ambitious architectural renderings that never see daylight to budget lines that disappear before shovels hit the ground, public infrastructure has too often been a promise deferred.
This failure is particularly stark in the healthcare sector, where community clinics are commissioned without trained personnel and equipment. Bills were passed without funding follow-through.
But a recent development flips the script. Over the course of two years, at least 4,362 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across 19 northern states, including the FCT, will receive over ₦20 billion in funding.
The distribution will be administered through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), according to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate.
Far from vague declarations, the fund is driving tangible results in Nigeria’s most underserved regions. 274 projects were executed across 35 tertiary hospitals in the north alone, reaching more than 4.5 million outpatients and 1.6 million inpatients.
The BHCPF, launched officially in 2019, was designed to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and improve access to basic healthcare. It commits at least 1% of Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Fund annually.
In the years since its launch, more than ₦77.88 billion has been approved under the fund. By late 2024, ₦45 billion had already been disbursed directly to PHCs, with another ₦32.88 billion added by early 2025.
The impact of the fund cuts across 7000 PHCs in the country. But this focus on northern PHCs is especially significant. The region continues to record higher maternal and child mortality rates, low immunisation coverage, and limited access to skilled health professionals.
As such, revitalising thousands of local PHCs could mean the difference between life and death for millions.
But this progress invites cautious optimism. Will these gains last?
Without a maintenance plan, even the most well-funded facilities can fall into disrepair. Vandalism, theft, and neglect have already rendered dozens of PHCs unusable in the past. Solar panels are stolen. Water systems break. Staff quits.
To protect this investment, governments at all levels must prioritise community ownership, routine supervision and public education on the value of health infrastructure. Local leaders must become stewards of these spaces, not just “ribbon cutters.”
These are actions over slogans. If accountability is maintained and waste minimised, this could signal a turning point in Nigeria’s grassroots health story.
And if more attention is paid to the supply of qualified workers, steady medical supplies, and fair distribution of funds, the PHC system might finally begin to fulfil its original promise: affordable healthcare for every Nigerian, no matter their location or status.
Nigeria's development landscape has faced challenges with unfulfilled public infrastructure promises, especially in healthcare where clinics lack equipment and trained personnel. However, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) represents a positive shift, directing over ₦20 billion to 4,362 Primary Healthcare Centres across 19 northern states in two years. These efforts target regions with high maternal mortality, low immunization, and limited healthcare access by reducing out-of-pocket expenses using funds from Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Despite tangible results, questions of longevity remain without sustained maintenance to prevent vandalism and neglect, which have historically affected these facilities. Governments must foster community ownership and ensure accountability to protect investments. By addressing issues with staffing, medical supplies, and fair funding distribution, the revitalized PHC system may achieve affordable healthcare for all Nigerians regardless of their status or location.
