Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has warned that the growing burden of chronic diseases could place further pressure on the country’s healthcare system unless governments strengthen prevention, diagnosis and access to treatment.
Pate raised the concern in Abuja on Thursday, 15 October 2026, during the unveiling of a two-volume publication on non-communicable diseases produced by the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON).
According to The Guardian Nigeria, the minister identified hypertension, diabetes, cancer and stroke among the conditions requiring greater attention from health authorities.
His warning came as the Federal Government reported progress in upgrading primary healthcare facilities and retraining frontline health workers.
Chronic diseases place growing demands on healthcare
Pate said Nigeria continued to face serious challenges from infectious diseases and maternal health conditions, but non-communicable diseases were becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s health burden.
Unlike many short-term illnesses, conditions such as hypertension and diabetes often require regular monitoring, medicines and continuing medical care.
The minister linked the growing challenge partly to lifestyle changes and an ageing population.
He urged state governments to increase investment in healthcare, arguing that improvements in public finances should translate into better services for residents.
The minister also highlighted the importance of affordable medicines and stronger health systems capable of supporting patients over many years.
The warning does not mean chronic diseases have overtaken infectious illnesses as Nigeria’s leading cause of death. Rather, Pate described them as one of the fastest-growing areas of the country’s disease burden.
Health experts call for stronger prevention and treatment.
The HERFON publication, titled A Review of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria, examines the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic illnesses.
The two-volume review draws on contributions from more than 70 experts and is intended to support health policy and planning.
According to Premium Times, Pate said the government was working to improve access to affordable medicines, including through a group purchasing initiative known as Medipool.
He also highlighted efforts to expand health insurance coverage and strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The World Health Organization has similarly stressed that people living with non-communicable diseases need reliable diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.
For patients, the availability of medicines and regular medical appointments can be as important as access to a health facility.
Government reports 3,526 upgraded health centres.
Separately, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has reported progress under the Federal Government’s primary healthcare revitalisation programme.
Its Executive Director, Muyi Aina, said 3,526 primary healthcare centres had been renovated, commissioned, and handed over to state and local authorities.
Another 91 facilities were nearing completion.
Aina said the programme was intended to bring essential health services closer to communities, particularly in areas where residents face long journeys to obtain medical care.
The agency has placed emphasis on improving water supply, sanitation, and electricity, including the use of solar power in some facilities.
However, the completion of renovation work does not establish that every center has sufficient staff, equipment, or medicines to meet all local healthcare needs.
More than 78,000 health workers retrained.
The NPHCDA also reported that more than 78,000 frontline healthcare workers had been retrained against a target of 120,000.
The agency is preparing additional training for community-based health workers to strengthen services in remote and underserved communities.
Aina said attendance at primary healthcare facilities had increased, suggesting that more Nigerians were using public health services.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that further investment and improvements in service quality were needed.
The government has also reported approval for a National Hospital infrastructure project estimated at ₦268 billion. That approval should not be confused with completed construction or expenditure.
Improved access must lead to better care.
The developments highlight two related challenges for Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The country needs more accessible primary healthcare services while also preparing to manage chronic illnesses that require continuous care.
Renovated buildings and additional training can help improve access, but their impact will depend on whether patients receive timely diagnosis, affordable treatment, and reliable follow-up.
Pate’s warning underlines the need for state and federal authorities to sustain healthcare investment as the demand for long-term treatment increases.
