The Nigerian government says it is prioritising a “bottom-up” approach to strengthen Nigeria’s health emergency response by empowering the 36 states, the FCT, and local governments.
The initiative, anchored on the sub-national capacity framework, is a key pillar of the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this during the 12th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja.
He said the government can no longer depend solely on federal interventions such as rapid response teams and outbreak materials without improving state-level preparedness and diagnostic systems.
“Strengthening sub-national capacity is essential for effective coordination among federal, state, and local governments in managing health emergencies,” Idris said.
He identified bureaucratic bottlenecks as a key challenge but noted that structured collaboration, training, and monitoring would ensure accountability and faster responses.
Under the States Outbreak Investigation and Response Fund (S-OIRF), Idris said Ekiti and Kaduna States have made progress through simulation exercises, emergency plans, and rapid responses to Yellow Fever and Diphtheria outbreaks.
He, however, noted that nationwide data on S-OIRF outcomes remain limited and urged stronger coordination and technical support across all states.
Idris reaffirmed that the Federal Government remains committed to building resilient, transparent, and sustainable health emergency systems to protect public health across Nigeria.
