At least 6,516 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across Nigeria are currently non-functional despite years of government investment and billions of naira channelled into programmes aimed at upgrading frontline health facilities, raising fresh concerns over access to basic healthcare services for millions of Nigerians.
The inactive facilities represent a significant setback for efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, which serves as the first point of contact for immunisation, maternal and child health services, treatment of common illnesses and disease prevention. Although successive interventions have focused on renovating facilities, expanding equipment and improving service delivery, many centres remain unable to operate because of inadequate staffing, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity, water shortages and limited medical supplies.
The development underscores the continuing challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector, Brandspur Politics reports. While the Federal Government has continued to disburse funds through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and other revitalisation initiatives, implementation has varied across states, leaving thousands of facilities unable to provide essential services.
Recent government updates indicate that thousands of PHCs have been revitalised nationwide and frontline health workers trained as part of broader reforms to improve healthcare access. However, experts say infrastructure upgrades alone are insufficient without sustained investment in personnel, equipment, medicines and operational funding needed to keep facilities functional.
Health analysts warn that the continued closure or inactivity of thousands of primary healthcare centres could undermine Nigeria’s progress towards universal health coverage, particularly as the country’s growing population depends heavily on PHCs for affordable and accessible medical care. They argue that stronger accountability, improved funding utilisation and closer collaboration between federal, state and local governments will be critical to restoring confidence in the nation’s primary healthcare system.
