Nigeria has pledged to increase funding for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in their 2027 budgets, as the country steps up efforts to eliminate illnesses that account for a quarter of Africa’s disease burden.
The push gained momentum at a high-level meeting in Abuja, where the Federal Ministry of Health said 23 states had established dedicated budget lines for NTD programmes in 2026, up from 19 in the previous financial year.
The commitments include an additional 100 million naira ($75,000) pledged by Kano State for snakebite treatment and prevention, while the Kaduna State House of Assembly is targeting a 50% increase in its NTD budget allocation for 2027.
The funding drive is aimed at reducing reliance on external support and building sustainable domestic financing to meet the World Health Organization’s 2030 elimination targets.
Nigeria accounts for about 25% of Africa’s burden of neglected tropical diseases, a group of 21 conditions that can cause disability, disfigurement and death, particularly among vulnerable communities.
Amos Magaji, chairperson of the House Committee on Health says lawmakers would push for a greater share of basic healthcare provision funds to be directed towards NTD programmes from 2027.
“Budget releases have been very poor,” Magaji said, adding that efforts were under way to ensure funding for NTDs and other neglected conditions was prioritised in health budgets.
Improved domestic financing could also unlock additional international support. Nigeria is positioned to access a further $7 million from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund for 2027 through timely releases of state-level contributions, multiplying the impact of government spending.
Adebayo Peters, national coordinator for NTDs at the health ministry said government and partner support had helped significantly reduce the number of people affected by the diseases.
Gerald Ogoko, head of resource mobilisation at Uniting to Combat NTDs said the increase from 19 states with dedicated budget lines in 2025 to 23 in 2026 showed growing political commitment.
The progress includes freeing 91.1 million people from the need for lymphatic filariasis treatment, according to the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of NTDs. The government also mobilised about 200 million naira in 2025 to tackle snakebite envenoming.