Promoting Accountability in Nigeria’s Health System

Nigeria’s health system has partially collapsed under the weight of its citizens’ health needs and decades of neglect, mismanagement, and underfunding by the government. Health services have been sustained by donors, the private sector, and patients themselves, who pay for most health services out of pocket. Today, the situation has reached a critical juncture, with Nigeria in the midst of an economic recession and donor support projected to decline in the coming years. Despite the gloom, pockets of Nigeria’s health system continue to work. This report looks at what is working, where, and why. It concludes with recommendations for the new U.S. administration on how to engage most effectively with Nigeria on health.