By Victor Akhidenor
The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria detected and placed over 440,000 tuberculosis (TB) patients on treatment in 2025—a record increase from the 138,591 cases recorded in 2020. However, health authorities caution that thousands of infected individuals remain undiagnosed across the country.
Speaking at a ministerial press conference in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, attributed the dramatic surge in case findings to the strategic expansion of national diagnostic networks.
Key operational updates highlighted by the Ministry include:
Diagnostic Expansion: The national GeneXpert machine network expanded from 32 operational units in 2012 to 527 units. Additionally, rapid TB-TrueNAT testing capacity grew to 372 units nationwide.
Treatment Efficacy: Nigeria maintained a 94% treatment success rate among identified patients, driven by healthcare worker dedication and direct observation therapy protocols.
Launch of MAF-TB: The government officially launched the Multisectoral Accountability Framework for TB (MAF-TB) to monitor commitments and resource allocation across federal, state, and local governments.
Despite the gains, Dr Salako emphasised that undetected cases, particularly in marginalised urban slums and rural areas, pose a continued transmission risk. Health officials urged sustained domestic co-financing to bridge existing funding gaps as global donor support fluctuates.