The Federal Government, in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), has launched a 4.2 million euros programme aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s public health institutions and improving preparedness for disease outbreaks.
The initiative, known as the EU Support to Public Health Institutes in Nigeria (EU SPIN), was inaugurated on Monday in Abuja.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the programme would enhance healthcare delivery across the country while boosting preparedness for future health emergencies.
According to him, the project will be implemented over four years by the WHO in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“The initiative, tagged EU Support to Public Health Institutes in Nigeria (EU SPIN), will be implemented over a four-year period by the WHO in partnership with the ministry,” Salako said.
He described the intervention as a significant step towards improving Nigeria’s health system, particularly for vulnerable groups.
“This initiative is designed to strengthen our health institutions, and it is truly a welcome development. It will improve the well-being of Nigerians, especially our vulnerable populations,” he said.
Salako also commended the European Union and WHO for their continued support to Nigeria’s health sector reforms, noting that the programme aligns with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignon, said the initiative reflects the bloc’s commitment to supporting resilient and digitally driven health systems.
“Through EU SPIN, the European Union is investing in strong, digitally enabled public health institutions in Nigeria.
”This partnership reflects our shared commitment to health security and sustainable systems strengthening,” he said.
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, said the programme would improve coordination, technical capacity and digital tools needed for effective outbreak response.
“By improving coordination, skills and digital tools, the project will help protect lives and keep communities healthier,” Ursu said.
He added that stronger systems would enhance response at the community level during disease outbreaks.
Stakeholders noted that the programme would benefit vulnerable groups including women, children, internally displaced persons, the elderly and persons living with disabilities.
By 2028, the initiative is expected to improve coordination among health institutions, strengthen operational capacity and enhance the reliability of public health data across federal, state and local levels.
Officials also said progress would be tracked through national monitoring systems and periodic evaluations involving government and development partners.
The EU SPIN programme would also support real-time data sharing and improve digital skills among health workers engaged in disease prevention and emergency response.
Nigeria continued to battle recurrent outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, Lassa fever, meningitis and Mpox, alongside rising cases of non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
According to WHO data, non-communicable diseases account for about 27 per cent of deaths in Nigeria, while malaria remains a major contributor to global malaria-related mortality recorded in the country.
