What is the Future of Nigeria’s Health Sector?

All four manifestos have common policies and varying differences, reflective of recommendations made to strengthen deliveries on the expectations for the health sector. After the elections conclude and a winner is declared, one of these manifestos will be the blueprint for the health sector for the next four or eight years.

Written by Health Policy Research Group & Health Sector Reform Coalition

Feb 20, 2023

Across the globe, elections into public offices come with promises and commitments. These promises are to invoke confidence in candidates and their parties by the voting population. Nigeria is no exception and it is disappointing when these promises are not fulfilled.

A 2019 article on voter apathy in Africa notes that while 98.2 per cent and 79.5 per cent of the registered voters in Rwanda and Kenya eventually voted in their last elections, just 35.66 per cent of registered voters voted in Nigeria. A reason for this low turnout is that politicians tend to renege on the promises made during campaigns, as well as commitments outlined in their manifestos.

In the build-up to the 2023 elections, Nigeria’s political climate has become more energized; seen in citizen’s interest in the presidential aspirants and their manifestos. A PUNCH article described these growing interests as a consequence of anger at the state of the nation. Citizens must not only devise means of holding their leaders accountable, they equally need to contribute to the kind of leadership they want. This can be achieved by studying the manifestos presented to the public and presenting the proposed policies in ways that can inform public opinion and provide reminders to those seeking public offices on what they should deliver when elected.

You've Reached Your Limit of Free Reading.

Ad-free reading experience
Focused consumption without interruptions.
Unlimited access to exclusive archives
Decades of reporting at your fingertips.
In-Depth Deep-Dive Reporting
Long-form journalism that matters.

About the Author

Health Policy Research Group & Health Sector Reform Coalition

Contributors include: 1. Obinna Onwujekwe is a Professor of Health Economics at the University of Nigeria, Coordinator of the HPRG, and Lead of the African Health Observatory Platform (AHOP), Nigerian National Centre. 2. Prince Agwu is a Social Policy Research Expert at the HPRG, and the Communications Anchor of AHOP, Nigeria. 3. Henry Ewunonu is a Medical Doctor and the Spokesperson of the HSRC, Nigeria. 4. Okechukwu Ozor is a researcher at the HPRG. 5. Iheomimichineke Ojiakor is a researcher at the HPRG. 6. Chioma Ojiaku is a researcher at the HPRG. 7. Chinelo Obi is a researcher at the HPRG. 8. Chika Offor is the Chairperson of the HSRC, Nigeria.

Comments

SHOP THE REPUBLIC

Artificial Intelligence, Pseudo-Futurism and the Future of Art

The spatio-historic relevance of an artwork ensures that the original, although replicated a thousand of times, remains the original. AI art is aura-less.

Prosper IshayaMay 26, 2026

Decolonizing the Machine: Ngũgĩ’s Legacy in the Era of AI Language

Drawing on Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s ideas on linguistic decolonization, Prosper Ishaya warns that the rise of Artificial Intelligence risks deepening linguistic inequality and urges African nations to embed indigenous languages into AI systems to resist digital colonialism.

Azubuike ObiMay 26, 2026

The Emergence of AI: How Much Progress Is Too Much Progress?

While acknowledging the benefits of Artificial Intelligence, Azubuike Obi calls for responsible use and initiates deeper conversations about its long-term social and educational consequences.

Nafisat AbdulsalamMay 26, 2026

The Silent Loot of Data in Africa

African data is being used to build Meta’s language model and targeted advertising algorithms. Despite this, the systems built with this data neither understand nor represent African values and cultures.

Chimezie UmeokaMay 26, 2026

Is Artificial Intelligence the Torchlight We Need in Searching for the African Revolution?

For Africa, if artificial intelligence should not just be a far-fetched dream, then it is necessary that the AI we integrate be free from colonial thinking.

Subscribe to our free newsletter

You're in — welcome to The Republic

Complete your onboarding

Read

Connect

Apps

More

Read

Connect

Apps

More

What is the Future of Nigeria’s Health Sector?

You've Reached Your Limit of Free Reading.

Ad-free reading experience

Unlimited access to exclusive archives

In-Depth Deep-Dive Reporting

You've Reached Your Limit of Free Reading.

Ad-free reading experience

Unlimited access to exclusive archives

In-Depth Deep-Dive Reporting

Comments

SHOP THE REPUBLIC

Related Stories

Artificial Intelligence, Pseudo-Futurism and the Future of Art

Decolonizing the Machine: Ngũgĩ’s Legacy in the Era of AI Language

The Emergence of AI: How Much Progress Is Too Much Progress?

The Silent Loot of Data in Africa

Is Artificial Intelligence the Torchlight We Need in Searching for the African Revolution?