The Federal Government says Nigeria spends about $150 million annually on vaccine procurement, even as it ramps up efforts to expand malaria vaccination and sustain nationwide immunisation programmes.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyiwa Aina, disclosed this on Tuesday during the agency’s first quarterly media briefing for 2026 held in Abuja.
Aina explained that funding for vaccines is sourced from government allocations and development partners, particularly Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, but warned that donor support is steadily declining.
“Countries are now expected to increase domestic financing as global donor resources continue to shrink,” he said.
He noted that vaccine financing goes beyond procurement to include outbreak response, logistics, and operational costs such as syringes, waste management systems, incinerators, and cold chain equipment needed for nationwide distribution.
On malaria control, Aina said Nigeria has expanded its malaria vaccine rollout from the initial pilot states of Bayelsa and Kebbi to Bauchi and Ondo states, following readiness assessments.
“What is unique about the malaria vaccine is that it requires four doses, and ensuring children return for all doses remains a key challenge,” he said.
Providing data on vaccine administration, he disclosed that Bayelsa recorded about 68,000 doses, Kebbi 153,000, Bauchi 66,000, and Ondo over 7,000 doses so far.
He added that dropouts between doses have prompted the government to strengthen tracking and follow-up systems to improve compliance.
Describing vaccines as one of the safest and most cost-effective medical interventions, Mr Aina said, “Vaccines are highly effective in preventing diseases such as measles. Its success often leads to reduced visibility of such diseases in communities.”
He stressed that vaccines undergo rigorous testing before approval and remain safer and cheaper than many common treatments, including malaria drugs.
He called for sustained public trust in immunisation programmes and health workers, noting that government is also investing in staffing and incentives to boost service delivery.
Beyond immunisation, Aina said 48,372 women have accessed free maternal health services nationwide, while 2,497 others benefited from obstetric fistula repairs, describing the interventions as vital to restoring dignity and improving quality of life.
