Transforming Health and Social Care Delivery in Nigeria

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, stands at a critical crossroads in its effort to reform and improve the health and social care systems that serve its more than 200 million citizens. Despite notable policy efforts, systemic weaknesses continue to hinder the delivery of accessible, equitable, and quality care. With growing urban populations, rural health disparities, and a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the urgency to transform health and social care delivery in Nigeria has never been greater. This article explores current challenges, policy frameworks, and actionable strategies for building a more inclusive and efficient health and social care system in Nigeria. Current State of Healthcare and Social Services Nigeria’s health system remains under-resourced and fragmented. While the government has articulated strong policy intentions—such as in the National Health Policy 2020—implementation remains a persistent challenge. According to the World Bank (2022), the country’s healthcare sector suffers from chronic underfunding, inefficient allocation of resources, and poor service delivery outcomes. Health service provision is marked by unequal access, with rural communities facing the greatest disadvantage. As Adebayo et al. (2021) highlight, bottlenecks include poor infrastructure, weak supply chains, inadequate staffing, and governance issues that prevent effective service delivery. Social care services—such as mental health, elderly care, disability support, and child welfare—are often treated as secondary or nonexistent, with no robust national framework for integration into the primary healthcare system. Ibrahim, Danjuma and Yakubu (2021) stress that social care is still not viewed as an essential public health function, leading to significant service gaps for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.