Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the measures in a statement shared on his official X handle @muhammadpate.
He explained that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is equipping national health institutions, upgrading laboratories, and expanding workforce training to build a more resilient disease surveillance and response framework.
Strengthening NCDC and Disease Laboratories
The minister highlighted the re-equipment of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the inauguration of the Integrated Disease Reference Laboratory in Lagos, which caters to neglected tropical diseases, malaria, fungal infections, and more.
“Our goal is to reposition the NCDC as a continental and global reference point for disease surveillance, preparedness, and response,” Pate said.
He added that the recent launch of the National Genomic Surveillance Strategy and the Nigeria Genomics Consortiumwill revolutionise detection and response to infectious diseases.
Focus on Antimicrobial Resistance
Pate also revealed that Nigeria will host the Fifth Global Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)in 2026.
He stressed that AMR poses a growing global health challenge, warning that microorganisms evolving resistance to antibiotics could have devastating effects on public health and economies.
“Nigeria has taken the lead in integrating genomics into AMR surveillance systems, improving our ability to track pathogens and advance precision medicine,” he stated.
Boosting Capacity and Surveillance
Under the leadership of Dr. Jide Idris at the NCDC, the government has expanded diagnostic access with new laboratories for mPox and Lassa fever, optimised facilities across 13 states, and reduced outbreak confirmation times to between 24 and 48 hours.
The NCDC has also achieved ISO 15189 accreditation for the National Reference Laboratory and a five-star rating for the Central Public Health Laboratory.
Pate noted that Nigeria’s collaborative surveillance model has won international recognition, with the World Health Organisation endorsing it as a global model for early outbreak action.
The government has further deployed the Nigeria Preparedness and Readiness Alert System (NPRAS), a predictive, risk-based platform for epidemic forecasting and decision-making.
Expanding the Health Security Workforce
To scale capacity, over 325 infection prevention and control officers from tertiary hospitals, secondary health facilities, and private institutions are currently undergoing structured training to become certified IPC professionals.
According to the minister, these efforts have led to measurable improvements, with Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation score on health security rising from 39% in 2017 to 54% in 2023.
Commitment to Global Readiness
Prof. Pate reiterated that Nigeria is determined to mobilise both domestic resources and international support to strengthen preparedness.
“Our public health system is being strengthened, repositioned, and equipped for the 21st century. We are determined to stay ahead of globalised health threats and protect our people,” he said.
