Over 6,500 Primary Healthcare Centres Non-Functional Across Nigeria Despite Heavy Funding

Despite billions of naira in federal and state allocations intended to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare infrastructure, at least 6,516 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) remain non-functional nationwide. The situation leaves millions of citizens, particularly in rural communities, without basic medical services.

Data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) reveals that Katsina State leads the country with 442 non-functional facilities, followed by Osun with 406, Benue with 343, Enugu with 335, and Adamawa with 286. Other affected areas include Jigawa, Delta, Yobe, Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers.

Field reports suggest the crisis is even more severe in conflict-affected regions. In Borno State, where NPHCDA records list 159 inactive centres, local health officials report that 358 facilities were destroyed due to over a decade of insurgency. Ongoing reconstruction efforts have managed to restore operational capacity to 377 facilities out of the 735 that existed prior to the conflict.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the primary healthcare sector faces systemic challenges including chronic manpower shortages, brain drain, insecurity, and inconsistent funding. Across several states, such as Bauchi, facilities rely heavily on unremunerated volunteer personnel to maintain basic operations due to severe shortages of permanent civil service staff.

State governments have responded with varying measures to address the gaps. Officials in Kano report the rehabilitation and equipping of 320 PHCs over the past three years alongside plans to recruit 7,000 healthcare workers. Similarly, Cross River and Anambra states have reported recent recruitment drives aimed at ensuring basic staffing levels across political wards.

Public health experts emphasize that physical renovation alone will not solve the crisis. They are calling for stronger governance, direct disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to local facility levels, and improved welfare packages to retain healthcare professionals in rural areas.