Nigeria is accelerating its digital health transformation with an ambitious plan to attract an estimated ₦500 billion in investments over the next five years to build a fully integrated national digital health ecosystem. Announced during the 6th Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS 2026) in Abuja, the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery through technology, data-driven decision-making, and stronger collaboration across the public and private sectors. The investment is expected to support the expansion of digital infrastructure, improve healthcare accessibility, and strengthen the country’s overall health system.
At the center of this transformation is the National Digital Health Architecture (NDHA), which has already received endorsement from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The framework is designed to unify Nigeria’s fragmented digital health initiatives into a single interoperable ecosystem that enables secure data sharing, electronic health records, and seamless collaboration across healthcare institutions. By moving beyond isolated pilot projects, the government aims to establish a nationwide digital platform capable of improving patient care, healthcare planning, operational efficiency, and evidence-based policy development.
Nigeria has already made measurable progress toward this vision. According to the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, approximately 74.5% of the country’s 79 federal tertiary hospitals have adopted Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), while digital logistics platforms have been deployed across all 774 local government areas to strengthen vaccine supply chain management. These milestones demonstrate the growing role of digital technologies in improving healthcare delivery, increasing transparency, and enabling better management of critical medical resources nationwide.
Despite these achievements, significant challenges remain before the country can achieve a fully connected digital healthcare ecosystem. Around 43% of Primary Healthcare Centres still lack reliable electricity, while nearly 60% of rural health facilities remain without internet connectivity. The government also recognizes the need to address interoperability issues among existing systems, develop more skilled digital health professionals, and reduce dependence on donor funding. To overcome these obstacles, the Federal Government is encouraging state governments, development partners, technology companies, private investors, and pension fund managers to align their investments with the National Digital Health Architecture and support long-term digital health infrastructure development.
With clear national policies, implementation frameworks, and strong stakeholder collaboration, Nigeria is positioning digital health as a strategic pillar for achieving Universal Health Coverage and improving healthcare outcomes for millions of citizens. By investing in interoperable systems, expanding digital infrastructure, and fostering innovation across the healthcare sector, the country is laying the foundation for a more connected, efficient, resilient, and patient-centered healthcare system that can meet future healthcare demands while driving sustainable economic and social development.
