The Federal Government (FG) says Nigeria will require an estimated ₦500 billion investment over the next five years to build an integrated and interoperable digital health ecosystem capable of transforming healthcare delivery and advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nationwide.
The funding requirement was disclosed by Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, at the opening of the 6th Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS 2026) in Abuja.
According to the minister, Nigeria has moved beyond demonstrating the value of digital health through isolated pilot projects and is now focused on deploying nationally integrated systems that can deliver measurable benefits for all Nigerians.
Salako says the National Digital Health Architecture (NDHA), already endorsed by all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), provides the framework for harmonising health information systems, improving interoperability and enabling shared health records across the country’s healthcare ecosystem.
According to the minister, Nigeria has moved beyond demonstrating the value of digital health through isolated pilot projects and is now focused on deploying nationally integrated systems that can deliver measurable benefits for all Nigerians.
The integrated architecture, he says, is expected to support continuity of care, strengthen planning processes and promote evidence-based decision-making across the health sector.
“The country’s focus is no longer on proving digital health solutions through isolated pilot projects, but on scaling nationally integrated systems that deliver measurable impact for every Nigerian,” Salako says.
The next phase of Nigeria’s digital health transformation, the minister says, will require coordinated investments from federal and state governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders to scale digital infrastructure and services across the country.
Digital health gains recorded
Highlighting progress already achieved under Nigeria’s digital health agenda, Salako says an assessment of the country’s 79 federal tertiary hospitals showed an average Electronic Medical Records (EMR) adoption rate of 74.5%, underscoring growing acceptance of digital technologies within the tertiary healthcare system.
He adds that digital logistics platforms have now been deployed across all 774 local government areas to strengthen vaccine supply chain management.
According to Salako, state governments are also being incentivised to adopt the National Digital Health Architecture through ongoing primary healthcare reforms aimed at deepening digital integration across all levels of healthcare delivery.
Highlighting progress already achieved under Nigeria’s digital health agenda, Salako says an assessment of the country’s 79 federal tertiary hospitals showed an average Electronic Medical Records (EMR) adoption rate of 74.5%, underscoring growing acceptance of digital technologies within the tertiary healthcare system.
Despite these gains, Salako acknowledges that significant structural challenges continue to slow digital transformation within the health sector.
He reveals that approximately 43% of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) nationwide currently lack access to electricity, while about 60% of rural health facilities remain without internet connectivity, limiting the deployment and sustainability of digital health solutions.
He also identifies poor interoperability among legacy systems, shortages of skilled digital health professionals and continued dependence on donor funding as major barriers to achieving nationwide digital health integration.
According to him, overcoming these challenges will require sustained investments in digital infrastructure and stronger collaboration between public institutions and private sector stakeholders.
Nigeria seeks private capital for digital health infrastructure
To bridge the financing gap, Salako calls on development partners, state governments, technology innovators and private investors to align their investments with the National Digital Health Architecture.
He also urges the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to consider digital health infrastructure as a strategic long-term investment opportunity capable of strengthening health insurance systems, improving operational efficiency and delivering better healthcare outcomes for Nigerians.
The minister says the Federal Government has already established the policy direction, implementation standards and governance framework needed to transition Nigeria’s digital health ecosystem from fragmented innovations into a unified national platform.
He reiterates the Ministry’s commitment to working with state governments, development partners and private sector players to accelerate the adoption of secure, interoperable and sustainable digital health solutions that strengthen Nigeria’s health system and improve access to quality healthcare.
The 6th Africa Digital Health Summit brings together policymakers, healthcare professionals, technology experts, development partners and industry stakeholders to explore strategies for accelerating digital transformation across Africa’s health sector.
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