The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has warned that future pandemics are inevitable and called for stronger preparedness during a public health symposium on Monday in Abuja.
“The next pandemic is not a matter of if but when,” Salako told participants, stressing the need for urgent and coordinated action.
He cited lessons from COVID-19, which exposed weaknesses in health systems and highlighted the importance of resilience and collaboration.
Nigeria has strengthened its health security through digital disease surveillance using SORMAS, expanded diagnostic services with over 100 public health laboratories, trained health personnel, and established infectious disease and emergency operation centres across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
These measures helped raise Nigeria’s technical evaluation score from 39 per cent in 2017 to 54 per cent in 2023.
Salako pointed to China’s response to COVID-19 as an example of effective technology use and community mobilisation in outbreak control.
“Mutual learning between Nigeria and China is critical to building resilient systems capable of safeguarding citizens and optimising global actions against future health emergencies,” he added.
The government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritised health security, implementing reforms and programmes aimed at rapid detection and response to outbreaks.
Nigeria also participates in the World Health Organisation pandemic agreement negotiations to strengthen global cooperation.
Salako called for multi-sector collaboration and practical policies to ensure full readiness for future health crises. “Let us work together across borders and sectors to ensure full readiness for the next pandemic, leaving no one behind,” he said.
Experts at the symposium described the initiative as a strategic step toward a more resilient and self-reliant healthcare system through partnerships, local production, and stronger health security frameworks.