Stakeholders Assess Health Programs in Niger State

Stakeholders in Niger State’s health sector have gathered to review the government’s ongoing health initiatives under Governor Mohammed Bago.

The two-day Health Sector External Retreat, organised by the Ministry of Health with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), brought together partners, staff, and key stakeholders to validate reform priorities, align partner interventions, and strengthen coordination under the New Niger Health Agenda.

The retreat aimed to harmonise planning, financing, and accountability across the health sector to enhance service delivery in 2026. It also reviewed and validated outcomes from a recent Internal Health Sector Retreat, oriented stakeholders on strategic priorities and reform pillars, strengthened the use of the Sector-Wide Approach, and developed a harmonised, costed implementation plan aligned with the Medium-Term Sector Strategy and Annual Operational Plans. Participants were expected to agree on a shared monitoring, reporting, and accountability framework to drive performance and results.

The Niger State Head of Service, Abubakar Sadiq, who delivered the opening address, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to implementing its health sector agenda through stronger systems, improved coordination, and sustainable financing. He assured stakeholders that the government would meet its financial, political, and institutional obligations and that ongoing reforms would align the Ministry of Primary Health Care with planning, budgeting, and fiscal institutions to improve efficiency and integration.

Sadiq also noted that legislative reviews would modernise health laws, address human resource gaps through structured engagement of retired professionals, and enhance welfare for health workers. He announced the creation of the Niger State Registration and Regulatory Agency for Private Health Care Facilities to strengthen oversight and ensure quality across both public and private sectors.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Babagana, highlighted inclusiveness, coordination, and effective execution as guiding principles of the ministry’s reforms. He praised the retreat’s alignment with the long-term Blue Niger Agenda and recent internal reforms, including a comprehensive self-assessment of sector performance and priorities. Babagana also noted ongoing collaboration with national and international partners, including the National Health Survey—a five-year assessment conducted with the Federal Ministry of Health and supported by USAID and UNICEF—to guide evidence-based planning and investments.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Nasiru Umar, urged greater local ownership of health initiatives, stressing sustainability, accountability, and improved inclusion, particularly for women.

Dr. Idris Baba, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting state-led priorities, providing technical support while allowing the government to lead implementation and take ownership of outcomes.