- Tinubu Commits to Vaccine Partnership as GAVI Unveils $500m Support for Nigeria
- Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Immunisation
- Nishtar announced that GAVI would contribute more than $500 million between 2026 and 2030 to support vaccination campaigns
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, following the organisation’s announcement of a fresh commitment of more than $500 million to support the country’s immunisation programme over the next five years, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking while receiving a delegation from GAVI led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sania Nishtar, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said his administration would continue to work closely with the alliance to improve immunisation coverage, expand local vaccine production and strengthen healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
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The President described GAVI as a critical partner in advancing global health, praising the organisation for its contributions to vaccine access and efforts to support vaccine manufacturing on the African continent.
“We appreciate you, and we appreciate GAVI for all you do. We will give it all the commitment. We will cooperate, we will collaborate. The partnership is cherished,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that Nigeria remained committed to immunisation despite global debates surrounding vaccines, noting that protecting future generations required sustained investments in science, education and healthcare.
“The programme of acceleration for the production of vaccines in Nigeria is empowering the continent. Here is the heart of Africa, and I’m here proudly saying that the seriousness that Nigeria takes immunisation and vaccines is unwavering,” he added.
Tinubu also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for leading reforms in the nation’s health sector.
“The essence of patriotism is what Ali Pate has been doing. A very fantastic job, committed always, and our health sector obviously has changed dramatically and is improving,” the President said.
He added that Nigeria must continue to build local healthcare capacity, tackle poverty through education and patriotism, and invest in initiatives that guarantee healthier lives for future generations.
In a light-hearted remark, Tinubu also referenced the approaching election season, saying, “It’s becoming an election year. I’m going to be seeking a return, so I hope you continue to be our partner.”
Earlier, GAVI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sania Nishtar, praised Tinubu’s administration for implementing wide-ranging macroeconomic and health sector reforms, which she said had transformed Nigeria’s healthcare system.
She said the reforms had revitalised primary healthcare, expanded access to health services, improved financing mechanisms and supported what she described as the world’s largest immunisation campaign, reaching about 102 million children.
Nishtar announced that GAVI would contribute more than $500 million between 2026 and 2030 to support vaccination campaigns, cold-chain infrastructure and primary healthcare services across Nigeria.
“I’ve come to let you know that GAVI will continue with its support to Nigeria. Over the last 20 years of this partnership, we have contributed $2.4 billion, and over the next five years we will contribute over $500 million towards vaccination campaigns that will vaccinate an entire generation of children in this great country,” she said.
She disclosed that discussions had already been held with Nigerian health authorities on implementing the new support package and announced the establishment of a $1.2 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator to boost commercial vaccine production across the continent.
According to her, Nigeria’s current vaccine financing arrangement sees GAVI funding 70 per cent of vaccine costs while the Federal Government contributes the remaining 30 per cent.
She revealed that Nigeria provided about $90 million for vaccines in 2025, while GAVI contributed $261 million, ensuring free immunisation against 13 diseases for children across the country.
Nishtar described the relationship as a partnership rather than charity and expressed confidence that Nigeria could eventually transition from a recipient nation to becoming a donor to GAVI, as countries such as India, Indonesia and China had done.
She, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain timely counterpart funding from 2026 onwards to prevent vaccine shortages and disease outbreaks while recommending that state governments also begin contributing to vaccine financing.
Also speaking, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the President’s reforms had already produced measurable improvements in primary healthcare, immunisation and human capital development.
Pate noted that GAVI’s latest commitment would complement increased domestic funding by the Federal Government, while the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Taiwo Oyedele, assured the alliance that Nigeria would meet its counterpart funding obligations and work with state governments to strengthen healthcare financing nationwide.
“We will do our best to deliver on our own promise to ensure that everyone who needs to be vaccinated has access to it and do so on time because that is the right thing to do,” Oyedele said.
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