Despite years of federal and state government investments worth billions of naira to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, at least 6,516 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country remain non-functional, leaving millions of Nigerians—particularly those in rural communities—without reliable access to basic healthcare services.
Data from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency shows Katsina leads the country with 442 inactive PHCs, followed by Osun, Benue, Enugu, Adamawa, Jigawa, Delta, Yobe, Lagos and Ogun.
The figures highlight the widening gap between infrastructure investments and effective healthcare delivery despite years of reforms aimed at improving access to quality healthcare at the grassroots.
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The challenge appears even greater in Borno State, where officials say 358 PHCs remain destroyed after years of Boko Haram insurgency, even though the national dashboard lists 159 inactive facilities.
According to the Borno State Primary Health Care Development Board, the state has restored the number of operational centres from fewer than 100 to 377, with three more facilities nearing completion.
Officials, however, acknowledge that shortages of healthcare workers, brain drain and insecurity continue to limit service delivery.
Nationally, the NPHCDA says Nigeria has 3,128 functional Level 2 PHCs, 3,275 revitalised facilities and 5,141 centres supported through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
Primary healthcare centres serve as the first point of contact for millions of Nigerians, providing immunisation, maternal healthcare, family planning, treatment of common illnesses and disease surveillance.
Health experts warn that when these facilities are unavailable, many residents either delay treatment, travel long distances or rely on unqualified providers, increasing the risk of preventable deaths and poor health outcomes.
Although the Federal Government has continued implementing programmes such as the PHC Revitalisation Programme and the PHC Under One Roof policy, many experts argue that infrastructure upgrades alone are insufficient.
Several state governments insist they are making progress.
Kano says it has rehabilitated 320 PHCs and plans to recruit about 7,000 additional health workers.
Cross River reports employing over 2,000 health professionals, while Anambra says its 441 PHCs are supported by about 3,000 healthcare workers delivering services across the state.
Benue and Zamfara also defended the functionality of their PHCs, although Bauchi officials admitted many facilities depend on volunteer health workers because of severe staffing shortages.
Health advocates say sustained funding, stronger governance, better accountability and improved welfare packages for frontline health workers are essential if Nigeria is to build a resilient primary healthcare system capable of delivering quality care to millions of citizens.
