The Chairman of the House Committee on HIV, TB, and Malaria Control, Amobi Godwin-Ogah, has called for an urgent shift from reliance on foreign donors to a more self-sufficient health financing model in Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening of the Nigeria Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) 2025 Annual Retreat and 70th General Meeting in Lagos, Ogah emphasized the critical state of Nigeria’s health financing landscape. He advocated for greater transparency and increased domestic funding, especially to combat HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria.
The meeting’s theme was “Partnering to Improve Health Systems Outcomes in an Evolving Global Health Financing Landscape.”
The CCM Nigeria is a Public-Private Partnership responsible for coordinating funding applications to the Global Fund, which supports HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria (ATM), and Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) programs in Nigeria.
Besides resource mobilization, CCM Nigeria plays a vital oversight role, ensuring that Global Fund grants are used effectively and transparently for the benefit of affected populations.
Ogah highlighted the legislature’s involvement in monitoring the use of international funds, stressing that Nigerians must know how Global Fund resources are managed and disbursed.
“We insist that recipients of these funds must be held accountable for every kobo received,” he said.
He expressed concern over a lack of transparency from some organizations managing these funds, recalling investigations where some had unverifiable addresses and obstructed inquiries.
Ogah urged CCM to open its processes to parliamentary scrutiny, noting that many Nigerians view CCM operations as secretive.
He also stressed the urgent need to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign aid, especially after the recent suspension of U.S. government support for African health systems.
“Collaboration is essential, but domestic advocacy must be paramount. We cannot rely solely on donors or aid; as a sovereign nation, we must manage our own health affairs,” he said.
Ogah criticized program managers for Malaria and HIV for inadequate responses, lamenting the ongoing malaria burden and calling for free malaria treatment at all primary healthcare centers.
In contrast, he praised the TB stakeholders’ partnership, which has led to significant progress, including the advancement of the TB (Anti-Discrimination) Act, 2025.
He stressed accountability and pledged to hold every agency under the committee’s purview responsible.
Ogah also recommended parliamentary representation on the CCM board to improve communication.
Ayob Ipinmoye, First Vice-Chair of CCM Nigeria, confirmed the funding challenge, revealing an 11 percent reduction in Global Fund allocation—from about $970 million to $860 million—creating a significant funding gap.
Ipinmoye urged the National Assembly to appropriate funds to cover this shortfall and called for stronger Nigerian ownership of health financing.
Under the leadership of Health Minister Prof. Ali Pate, CCM is implementing a sector-wide approach to optimize every naira spent.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori said international support should be viewed as an opportunity.
She emphasized the importance of Nigeria owning its national health response, ensuring appropriate budget allocations for HIV programs, promoting local production of health commodities to reduce costs, and enrolling people living with HIV in the National Health Insurance Scheme to lower out-of-pocket expenses.
