Nigeria must prepare for future pandemics and epidemics, say health experts

Experts have emphasized that Nigeria must strengthen its health systems and local institutions to effectively handle disease outbreaks and protect the public from health threats. This message was shared at the second APIN Public Health Initiatives Annual Symposium in Abuja on Thursday, November 21.

The event, themed “Securing Our Future: Strengthening Global Health Security in Nigeria,” focused on strategies to improve the country’s health system and its ability to respond to public health challenges.

Health systems must be adaptable

In his opening speech, Prosper Okonkwo, CEO of APIN Public Health Initiatives, stressed the need for adaptable health systems that can tackle both current and future health challenges. He explained that health security requires systems capable of detecting, assessing, and responding to both ongoing and emerging health threats.

“The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a global alert, highlighting the perils of inequality,” Okonkwo said. “That pandemic brought the entire world to a halt.”

He further noted that Nigeria, like many other countries, faces significant challenges in managing both infectious and non-communicable diseases, making it critical to strengthen health security frameworks.

“Strengthening health security is vital to protect the population from health threats,” Okonkwo added, reaffirming APIN’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s health security.

Building strong, resilient local institutions

In his keynote address, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization (WHO), explained that strengthening health security is not just about responding to crises but about building strong institutions that can tackle long-term challenges.

“To build lasting solutions, we need institutions that can respond to immediate crises while also laying the foundation for long-term self-reliance,” Ihekweazu said.

He emphasized that countries like Nigeria need to allocate resources to build their own institutions, rather than relying entirely on external actors. “We must invest in our own capacity to handle these challenges,” he said. “Strong, resilient local institutions should be at the centre of health security efforts.”

Ihekweazu also highlighted that external support is important but that local leadership and expertise must be the driving force.

COVID-19 underscored health security needs

During the event, Oladipo Shittu, Board Chairman of APIN Public Health Initiatives, reflected on the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed how vulnerable countries are without strong health security systems.

“The pandemic halted global activity and showed us the economic consequences of weak health security,” Shittu said. “Nigeria must prioritize health security and ensure that the ideas from this symposium lead to real, nationwide actions.”

Government’s commitment to health security

Finally, Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, spoke about the government’s efforts to reduce the prevalence of diseases in Nigeria. Represented by Nse Akpan, Director of Port Health Services, he said that cases of malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, which are major public health issues, are steadily decreasing.

“We still have a long way to go, and that’s why the government is working toward a one-health approach that integrates all programs to tackle diseases effectively,” Pate said. “This approach will help us contain—and hopefully eradicate—diseases of importance in Nigeria.”

The discussions at the symposium underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to invest in strengthening its health systems and institutions to better prepare for future pandemics and health crises.