Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to comprehensive health reforms, stronger systems and sustainable partnerships to improve access, quality and equity in healthcare delivery.
Bago said this at the opening a two-day external retreat of the Niger Ministry of Health on Friday in Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Bago, represented by the state’s Head of Service, Abubakar Idris, said the government remained committed to implementing its health sector agenda through stronger coordination, sustainability and system strengthening.
He announced the merger of primary healthcare with the secondary and tertiary, to improve oversight and integrated service delivery.
Bago said Niger was intensifying efforts toward strong performance in the 2026 primary healthcare challenge.
He added that the health sector funding would increase in 2027 to improve access, quality, equity, and progress toward Abuja Declaration targets.
The Governor appealed for continued technical support, financial assistance and strategic partnerships to consolidate sector gains.
He assured partners of prompt and consistent counterpart funding, to enhance credibility and effectiveness of joint health interventions.
Bago appreciated development partners for sustained collaboration and support toward improving health outcomes for residents of the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Bagana, said Niger was learning from Kaduna’s coordination with partners, including UNICEF, WHO, Gavi, and the Gates Foundation.
He stated that said the state was introducing a new health agenda, built on six pillars under the Gov. Bago led administration.
Bagana said the first pillar focused on transforming the ministry’s culture and public image.
He said the second pillar involved revamping healthcare infrastructure, while addressing both supply and demand.
He said rebuilding trust and credibility with partners, formed the third pillar.
Bagana added that institutional transformation was the fourth pillar, including a delivery unit to drive daily implementation of plans.
The commissioner added that continuous capacity building for health workers was also central to effective service delivery.
Bagana said primary healthcare reform was another major pillar of the new agenda.
The commissioner stressed that Niger also aimed to become a centre of excellence for medical tourism.
Bagana announced the approval of a medical school at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, a Federal Medical Centre in New Bussa as well as a major infrastructure upgrades.
He said the reforms would build manpower pipelines and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Niger House of Assembly Committee on Health, Muhammad Nasir, said the assembly had passed several bills and motions supporting health sector revitalisation.
Nasir said the legislature had also provided budgetary support, with the governor assenting to key allocations for the ministry.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed, said the state prioritised health through 15 per cent budget allocation, workforce recruitment and facility upgrades.
Ahmed said Kaduna upgraded 255 primary healthcare centres to level two and revitalised 15 secondary facilities.
She said the state procured 23 ambulances and inaugurated emergency and rural transport health services.
Ahmed said Kaduna also implemented the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to improve remuneration and reduce health worker attrition.
She said that Gov. Uba Sani had prioritised health because productivity depended on a healthy population.
Ahmed said that Niger was on track for total health sector revitalisation through focused planning and stakeholder engagement.
UNICEF Health Specialist, Kaduna Field Office, Dr Idris Baba, said UNICEF supported health system strengthening, especially planning and coordination.
Baba said poor water, sanitation, malaria control, and nutrition perpetuated disease cycles.
He said UNICEF would support coordinated government action to achieve better health outcomes in Niger.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
By Sani Idris Abdulrahman
Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to comprehensive health reforms, stronger systems and sustainable partnerships to improve access, quality and equity in healthcare delivery.
Bago said this at the opening a two-day external retreat of the Niger Ministry of Health on Friday in Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Bago, represented by the state’s Head of Service, Abubakar Idris, said the government remained committed to implementing its health sector agenda through stronger coordination, sustainability and system strengthening.
He announced the merger of primary healthcare with the secondary and tertiary, to improve oversight and integrated service delivery.
Bago said Niger was intensifying efforts toward strong performance in the 2026 primary healthcare challenge.
He added that the health sector funding would increase in 2027 to improve access, quality, equity, and progress toward Abuja Declaration targets.