CAPPA flags funding gaps in health sector, blames govt

As Nigeria joins the global community to mark the 2026 World Health Day, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, has urged governments at all levels to move beyond rhetoric but urgently address the chronic underfunding and policy gaps undermining the country’s health sector and worsening its disease burden.

In a statement on Tuesday by the CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, to mark the day, CAPPA decried Nigeria’s persistent failure to adequately fund the health sector over the past decade.

Citing data from the Budget Office of the Federation, the organisation noted that allocations have consistently fallen short of the 15 per cent benchmark set under the Abuja Declaration, with even approved funds often not fully released.

The group, while pointing to recent examples, revealed that in January, the Federal of Health and Social Welfare reportedly lamented its inability to implement its 2025 capital budget after only N36 billion was released out of the N218 billion allocated.

“Similarly, in 2024, just N26.552 billion was released from the N233.656 billion earmarked for capital projects.

“This longstanding gap between budget promises and actual releases has weakened the health system and is short-changing Nigerians,” said CAPPA’s

Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi.

“It shows up in limited access to essential medicines, overstretched facilities, a severe shortage of health workers worsened by the ‘Japa’ trend, high out-of-pocket costs, and a growing burden of non-communicable diseases driven by unhealthy food environments.”

CAPPA warned that non-communicable diseases – including hypertension, diabetes, obesity and heart-related conditions – now account for about 29 per cent of annual deaths in Nigeria, placing enormous strain on families and the health system.

It stressed that reversing this trend requires urgent preventive policies, particularly to curb excessive consumption of salt, sugar, and trans fats.

Referencing the World Health Day 2026 theme, “Together for health: Stand with science,” the organisation called on governments at all levels to prioritise evidence-based policies.

One such measure, CAPPA said, is a stronger sugar-sweetened beverage tax.

The group welcomed moves by the National Assembly to review the current N10 per litre levy and transition to a percentage-based tax tied to retail price, with part of the revenue earmarked for health promotion.

“We maintain that the current SSB tax is too low to significantly reduce consumption,” Oluwafemi said.

“We are calling for an increase to at least 50 per cent of the retail price, in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.

“There is compelling evidence that stronger fiscal measures can reduce consumption while generating much-needed revenue for health financing.

“Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide, including in Nigeria,” Oluwafemi lamposted.

“Effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act requires far greater investment than what is currently provided,” insisted.

The organisation called on governments, policymakers and relevant agencies to scale up health sector funding, ensure full and timely release of budgeted funds, fast-track the adoption of healthy food policies, and strengthen accountability across the system.

“Prevention must become central to Nigeria’s health strategy,” Oluwafemi added.

“That means backing science with action through adequate funding and strong policies that protect public health,” the CAPPA ED maintained.