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Nigeria's federal and state governments are moving to increase funding for the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the 2027 budget cycle, as authorities seek to strengthen domestic financing and reduce reliance on external support for disease elimination programmes.

The commitment emerged from the annual High-Level Meeting on NTDs held in Abuja in late October, where government officials, lawmakers, health commissioners and development partners discussed strategies to secure dedicated funding for diseases that continue to affect millions of Nigerians.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 23 states established dedicated budget lines for NTDs in 2026, up from 19 states that created similar allocations in the 2025 financial year. Those 19 states collectively earmarked more than $1 million for NTD interventions, helping to advance Nigeria's efforts to meet the World Health Organisation's 2030 disease elimination targets.

The latest commitments suggest growing political support for domestic financing of NTD programmes. Kano State pledged an additional N100 million toward efforts to tackle snakebite envenoming, while the Kaduna State House of Assembly signalled its intention to increase NTD funding by 50 per cent in its 2027 budget.

Nigeria carries one of the world's heaviest burdens of neglected tropical diseases, accounting for an estimated 25 per cent of all NTD cases in Africa. The diseases, which include conditions that can cause severe disability, disfigurement and death, disproportionately affect poor and underserved communities.

The high-level meeting, convened by Uniting to Combat NTDs in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and The Global Fund, focused on the need for sustained government financing and stronger accountability mechanisms.

Participants included commissioners of health from the country's 36 states, national and state legislators, budget committee chairs, programme managers and representatives of development organisations. Discussions were held under the theme, "Strengthening Efforts to Control and Eliminate NTDs, HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria in Nigeria."

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Amos Magaji, said efforts were underway to ensure greater support for NTD programmes through public health spending.

"For some time now, budget releases have been very poor," he said. "But efforts have been made not only to have budgets released for NTDs but to ensure that diseases like these are prioritised in health budgets."

Officials also highlighted opportunities to attract additional international funding through increased domestic investment. By releasing state-level funds on time, Nigeria could unlock a further $7 million in external support from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund (RLMF) in 2027, significantly expanding the resources available for disease control and elimination programmes.

The National Coordinator for NTDs at the Federal Ministry of Health, Adebayo Peters, said Nigeria had already recorded significant progress in reducing the burden of several diseases.

"We have been able to drastically reduce the number of people affected by these diseases," Peters said. "The efforts to eliminate NTDs are successful because of the contributions we are getting both from the government and our implementing partners."

According to data from the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of NTDs (ESPEN), Nigeria has freed nearly 91.1 million people from requiring treatment for lymphatic filariasis through interventions supported by government funding and international partners.

The country has also increased attention to snakebite envenoming, mobilising around N200 million in the national health budget in 2025 to address the condition.

Gerald Ogoko, Head of Resource Mobilisation at Uniting to Combat NTDs, described the increase in dedicated state funding as a positive sign for the future of disease elimination efforts.

"Last year, 19 states established dedicated NTD budget lines totalling more than US$1 million; this year, 23 states have now reported dedicated budget lines," he said. "It's clear that Nigeria's momentum on NTD financing is growing and its leadership is setting a powerful example across Africa."

Health advocates say stronger coordination between federal and state governments, backed by dedicated funding and shared monitoring frameworks, will be crucial to ensuring prevention, treatment and care reach vulnerable populations.

With preparations for the 2027 budget cycle underway, policymakers hope that increased domestic investment will put Nigeria on a more sustainable path towards eliminating neglected tropical diseases and improving health outcomes in some of the country's most underserved communities.