Posted on: Fri 07-11-2025

A new report has raised alarm over Nigeria’s weak health emergency preparedness, revealing that all 36 states scored below 30 per cent in the 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index (HPI), released yesterday by SBM Intelligence.

 

According to the report, no Nigerian state achieved up to 30 per cent preparedness to respond to health emergencies or deliver effective healthcare services — a finding analysts warn could spell trouble for the nation’s ability to handle future health crises.

 

The highest-performing state, Abia, recorded a score of 26.85 per cent, while all other states fell short of the benchmark. The report described this outcome as a reflection of “years of neglect, underfunding, and weak institutional capacity” within Nigeria’s health system.

 

The 2025 HPI assessed the performance of each state across several key indicators, including doctor-to-population ratio, health budget, human development index (HDI), and infant mortality rate.

 

SBM researchers noted that the findings come at a time when the country is still grappling with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, five years after its outbreak. They attributed the low preparedness levels to “structural deficiencies, poor fiscal prioritisation, and the ongoing exodus of health professionals.”

 

The report identified the mass migration of Nigerian-trained doctors as a major threat to the country’s healthcare capacity. It stated that poor working conditions, insecurity, and inadequate remuneration had forced thousands of health workers abroad, with more than 67 per cent of Nigerian-trained doctors now practising overseas.

 

As a result, Nigeria’s average doctor-to-patient ratio has collapsed to one doctor per 15,361 patients, far below the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of one doctor per 600 patients. Bauchi State recorded the most severe shortage, with just one doctor for every 54,249 people.

 

By contrast, Lagos, Edo, and Enugu were found to have fewer than 3,200 patients per doctor, while northern states such as Zamfara, Kebbi, and Bauchi faced acute shortages.

 

“The uneven distribution of medical professionals highlights the urgent need for policies that will retain and fairly redistribute Nigeria’s healthcare workforce,” the report said.

 

The analysis also revealed wide disparities in state health budgets. Lagos maintained the highest nominal allocation, exceeding N221 billion, while Kaduna devoted the largest proportion of its total budget to health at 16.1 per cent, followed by Kano (15.2 per cent) and Bauchi (15.1 per cent).

 

In contrast, Akwa Ibom (4.3 per cent), Bayelsa (4.1 per cent), and Imo (3.5 per cent) ranked among the least committed states in terms of health funding.

 

On a per capita basis, Abia (N22,926) and Ogun (N21,051) led the country, while Imo (N3,950) and Adamawa (N4,271) recorded the lowest spending.

 

The report’s authors cautioned that such uneven fiscal patterns could deepen health inequalities, particularly in states that continue to allocate minimal resources despite high disease burdens and recurring environmental challenges.

 

Abia State topped the 2025 Health Preparedness Index for the first time, driven by strong per capita spending and a relatively high Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.674. Ogun and Lagos placed second and third, while Osun and Edo completed the top five.

 

At the lower end of the ranking, Kebbi (13.31) and Katsina (12.54) were the worst-performing states, joined by Sokoto, Gombe, and Zamfara. Notably, Ebonyi—a southern state—also fell into the bottom five for the first time, due to poor health spending and an alarming doctor-to-patient ratio of one doctor per 21,202 residents.

 

Analysts say the findings should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers at both federal and state levels to prioritise healthcare funding and strengthen systems ahead of possible future outbreaks.

 

“Without decisive investment in health infrastructure, human resources, and governance, Nigeria risks being unprepared for the next major health emergency,” the report warned.

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