The Federal Government has expressed concern around changes in global health funding, stressing that government must be in the driver’s seat for the health of Nigerians.
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Bako said the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako stated the government’s posture while receiving in his office, the Ambassador of Spain in Nigeria, His Excellency, Felix Artieda who led a delegation in a courtesy call.
The visit aimed at briefing the Nigerian government on health programmes embarked upon by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
“So, the concern with the changes around global health funding is a legitimate concern, and Nigeria is also concerned. But of course, we also realize that we cannot be dependent on anybody for the health of our citizens. We must take responsibility, and we must be in the driver’s seat for the health of our citizens, and that is what the direction of the government ought to take”, he said.
Commending some of the Initiatives of the Spanish Development Agency, the Minister highlighted that Federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu was undergoing health reforms through National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, sitting on four pillars as a transformation agenda for the health sector.
He noted that the meeting had opened window for the two countries to revisit the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2022 with a view to take action and practicalize some of its contents, citing transfer of technology as a key aspect of the memo aligned with the aspiration of the Nigerian government to unlock the healthcare value chain in the country.
In areas of obstetrics fistula and gynecology, Dr. Salako pointed out that Nigeria had taken a bold step to address some of these issues, by establishing specialized institutions to focus on obstetrics and gynecology, and also providing free treatment, including social integration, for people who have been identified or have suffered from obstetrics fistula and gynecology.
Dr. Salako said, ” Nigeria is very happy with this initiative of trying to awaken and make our relationship and health system more robust, more active. We welcome this, and I want to assure you that on our side, we will do everything possible to promote that partnership.”
Speaking earlier on behalf of the delegation, Mr. Anton Leis, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation said there were a number of multilateral initiatives by the Spanish Agency, adding that they ha been working with UNFPA on combating some practices like female genital mutilation and the eradication of polio in Nigeria.
He stated that they were already accomplishing fantastic new industrial materials for humanity, explaining that they were working with UNICEF and the EU, actively supporting efforts to promote health efficiency and larger activity in the medical products industry in Nigeria, adding that 1.1 million euros had so far been contributed.
Mr. Anton applauded Nigeria’s model under its Sector Wide Approach, “We believe in that model. There is one plan, one budget, one important area, and I think this is fundamental”.
The Director disclosed that they were working on this with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the Resilient Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain.
In her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom said Nigeria and Spain had a long standing relationship, recalling that the two nations had signed MoUs in 2022 and 2025, for collaboration.
[12:29, 2/24/2026] Wifey: Middle: Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, flanked by his immediate right, Perm.Sec. Daju Kachollom S. mni, 2nd by the right is His Excellency, Felix Costales, Ambassador of Spain in Nigeria and flanked by his Left: Mr. Anton Leis, Director of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation with other members of the delegation.
