The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ending Tuberculosis (TB) by 2030 through concrete actions under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The statement was issued on Wednesday by her Media Aide, Busola Kukoyi, following her participation as the special guest of honour at the 39th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting held in Manila, Philippines.
Addressing over 180 participants from 47 countries, Mrs. Tinubu said Nigeria is strengthening its efforts to reduce reliance on donor funding and build resilient systems to ensure sustained progress in the fight against TB.
As the Global and National Stop TB Champion, she described TB as the world’s deadliest infectious disease and a persistent threat due to its airborne nature.
“The sustainability of the TB response cannot rely solely on external assistance but must come from national leadership, community engagement, and strategic coordination,” she said.
She highlighted Nigeria’s continued progress despite temporary reductions in support from some financing partners. “Through steadfast leadership, community engagement, and strategic national coordination, we have ensured that the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB in 2025 did not increase. This demonstrates the power of country ownership and the unwavering commitment of Nigerians,” Mrs. Tinubu added.
The First Lady stressed the urgency of community-level action, noting that TB claims nearly 1.3 million lives globally each year. “In Nigeria, we remain among the eight countries responsible for two-thirds of global TB cases, with an estimated 479,000 Nigerians developing TB in 2023 and over 150,000 deaths recorded. These are not just numbers—they are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters whose lives compel us to act with urgency and compassion,” she said.
She commended the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Stop TB Partnership, and affiliated agencies for their dedication and transparency in ensuring that funds mobilised to expand testing, diagnosis, treatment, and integration of TB services into primary healthcare are judiciously used.
Speaking at the meeting, Stop TB Partnership Board Chair and Philippines Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa described TB as not only a health issue but also a development challenge. “It is a critical fight. Despite remarkable progress, we must remain relentless and determined,” he said.
Stop TB Partnership Executive Director Dr. Lucica Ditiu highlighted the importance of integrating data systems with national governments to accelerate TB elimination by 2030. She reported that in the last two months, new facilities for grants were deployed in five countries, screening 8,000 people, diagnosing 5,000, and enrolling 3,000 in preventive treatment.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also attended the meeting.
The 38th edition of the Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting was held in Abuja in 2024.
