NIGERIA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ELIMINATING NTD's BY 2030

Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako Nigeria's Minister of State Health and Social Welfare giving his address during the 2025 World NTD Day in Abuja 

"Nigeria accounts for 25% of the NTD burden in Africa, with over 200 million people at risk of one NTD or another and 165 million requiring preventive chemotherapy." Iziaq Salako.

..... Tropical Diseases continue to affect the most vulnerable, especially women and children, due to poverty, poor sanitation, and unsafe water supply.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by 2030.

This was the assertion of the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, at the 6th Session of the World NTD Day held in Abuja, the Federal Capital today.

Dr. Salako, in his address at the event, with the theme, "Campaign, “Unite, Act, and Eliminate NTDs", emphasized the need for stronger partnerships to achieve universal health coverage.

According to Dr. Iziaq Salako, "Nigeria accounts for 25% of the NTD burden in Africa, with over 200 million people at risk of one NTD or another and 165 million requiring preventive chemotherapy.

He noted that "Tropical Diseases continue to affect the most vulnerable, especially women and children, due to poverty, poor sanitation, and unsafe water supply.

“While the challenges remain daunting, Nigeria has made modest achievements, such as the eradication of Guinea Worm in 2013 and the elimination of Onchocerciasis in Plateau and Nasarawa States.”

The Minister of State Health and Social Welfare stressed that theme for this year’s campaign underscores the urgent need for innovative and sustainable financing to keep progress on track toward the 2030 targets. 

He highlighted Nigeria’s proactive measures, including the development of the 2023–2027 NTD Master Plan, which serves as a blueprint for advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Salako further disclosed that, “the 2021–2030 WHO NTD Roadmap provides ambitious targets and innovative approaches. Nigeria remains committed to its implementation, focusing on accountability, multi-sectoral integration, and political commitment to ensure sustainability.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Unlock Healthcare Value Chain Initiative offers an opportunity to address pharmaceutical shortages and ramp up local manufacturing. The fight against NTDs is crucial to achieving Universal Health Coverage, Sustainable Development Goal 3, and eradicating poverty,” he added.

The Honourable Minister commended development partners such as WHO, UNICEF, USAID, and NGOs for their unwavering support while urging the media and stakeholders to raise awareness in the country.

Speaking also at the 2025 NTD Day, Aliyu Mohammed, Director of Helen Keller International, reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in its quest to eliminate leprosy and other NTDs by 2030.



“We have been partnering with the government to tackle these issues, and we are stretching our collaboration to ensure we eliminate all phases of leprosy and other NTDs as part of the broader fight against national poverty,” Mohammed said.

UNICEF Consultant, Hilary Adie, highlighted the critical role of clean water and proper sanitation in combating diseases associated with poor hygiene.

“Thank you to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigerian government for providing a Clean Nigeria Campaign office to ensure communities become open-defecation-free,” Adie said.

The Country Director of CBM Global, Abdulazeez Musa, while emphasizing  the need for sustainable funding, innovative solutions, and a commitment to equitable healthcare for all, said; “To act now means recognizing that time is of the essence. Delayed action leads to lost lives, diminished livelihoods, and prolonged suffering,” Musa said.

Meanwhile, the National President of IDEA Nigeria, Mr. Peter Iorkighir, decried the prolonged unavailability of life-saving Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) medications in Nigeria, describing the situation as a “human rights violation.”

“Leprosy is curable, yet thousands remain untreated due to unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles,” Iorkighir said.