Nigeria is facing a critical funding shortfall in its tuberculosis (TB) control efforts, with 80,000 expected TB patients in 2024 still unidentified and untreated, stakeholders warned at a pre-World TB Day press briefing in Abuja.
The country requires $404 million in 2025 to effectively deliver TB treatment and services, raising concerns over potential setbacks in the fight against the disease.
A representative of the country coordinating mechanism, Global Fund, Mr. Tajudeen Ibrahim disclosed that Nigeria’s TB drug supply for 2025 was already under strain, as some medications allocated for next year had been used to meet unforeseen treatment demands in 2024. He further noted that a $5 million funding gap caused by a recent U.S. government executive order had impacted active TB case-finding efforts across 18 states between January and March. With 24 per cent of Nigeria’s TB funding coming from external sources, including $22 million from the U.S., there are concerns that a lack of adequate financing could disrupt detection and treatment programs, leading to higher transmission rates.
Head of childhood tuberculosis at the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), Dr. Urhioke Ochuko revealed that despite intensified efforts, 80,000 people who needed TB treatment in 2024 were neither diagnosed nor placed on treatment, creating a 17 per cent treatment gap. He explained that although 439,000 people were identified with TB, only 418,000 received treatment, leaving thousands without medical intervention. The inability to diagnose and treat all TB cases is a major setback in the country’s quest to eliminate the disease.
Ochuko stated that treating one TB patient costs approximately $600, while treating a drug-resistant TB patient costs around $5,000. He emphasised that universal diagnosis and treatment for all TB patients remain the ultimate goal, but financial constraints and systemic challenges continue to slow progress. He called for increased funding, expanded diagnostic services and stronger community-based interventions to close the treatment gap and prevent further spread.
Head of the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (PMDT), NTBLCP, Dr. Adesigbin Clement Olufemi stressed the importance of community-driven approaches in TB detection and treatment. He explained that a “whole-of-society approach” is essential, where communities actively monitor, track, and report TB cases rather than relying solely on government-run health institutions. Community-led interventions, he said, could improve early diagnosis and treatment adherence, ensuring better health outcomes.
Olufemi highlighted recent innovations in TB diagnostics, noting that the deployment of over 333 diagnostic tools had increased TB case detection rates by 40 per cent. He called for greater media involvement, urging journalists to engage with health officials beyond annual reports to ensure transparency and sustained efforts in TB control. Raising public awareness, he added, is a key factor in reducing stigma, increasing testing rates and mobilising funding support.
Chair of the 2025 World TB Day Planning Committee, Dr. Enang Oyama outlined progress in TB treatment, particularly the shortened duration of drug-resistant TB treatment and the shift to all-oral regimens, which eliminate painful injections. He underscored the importance of the BCG vaccine, which protects children from severe TB and highlighted ongoing research efforts to develop an effective TB vaccine for adults, similar to advancements seen with malaria vaccines.
He also announced the relaunch of the National Parliamentary Caucus on TB, which aims to strengthen legislative support for TB control programmes. To commemorate World TB Day, a special parliamentary press conference has been scheduled for March 25 at the National Assembly, where lawmakers will discuss ways to improve TB funding, detection and treatment efforts. He invited Nigerians to actively participate in TB-related events to drive awareness and policy change.
Project director of global fund (Grant Cycle), Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Dr. Olayemi Olupitan emphasised the role of sustained public awareness campaigns in combating misinformation about TB. He called for increased use of social media, investigative journalism and policy advocacy to push for greater funding transparency, expanded case-finding efforts and improved TB services nationwide.
Olupitan urged journalists to become TB champions, actively engaging with policymakers, healthcare professionals, and donor organisations to ensure that Nigeria’s TB control efforts receive the necessary financial and political backing. He warned that without urgent intervention, thousands of TB patients could go untreated, leading to increased transmission rates, drug resistance and preventable deaths.
The $404 million funding shortfall poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s TB control efforts. Stakeholders have called on the government, private sector and international donors to act swiftly by allocating sufficient resources, improving diagnostic access, and expanding treatment coverage to meet the country’s 2025 TB response targets.
In line with the National TB Strategic Plan (2021–2026) and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has outlined key strategies to accelerate TB eradication efforts. These strategies include expanding TB services across public and private health facilities under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, strengthening community engagement by working with traditional and religious leaders to increase awareness and reduce stigma, integrating TB services into reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH+N) programmes, deploying 370 portable digital X-ray machines to improve early TB screening, particularly in underserved communities, and enhancing social protection for TB patients and families to reduce financial hardships.
With TB still a major public health threat in Nigeria, stakeholders have stressed the need for urgent action from government agencies, development partners, and civil society organisations to bridge the funding gap and ensure that every patient has access to life-saving treatment. While Nigeria has made significant progress in TB control, achieving the 2030 TB eradication goal will require consistent investment, innovative strategies and strong political commitment.
As World TB Day 2025 approaches, experts continue to emphasise that early diagnosis, proper treatment and community involvement are essential in reducing TB transmission. With renewed government commitment and international collaboration, there is optimism that Nigeria can significantly curb TB cases and move closer to ending the epidemic.
