Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Geneva, Switzerland / Abuja, Nigeria — As the world observed World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that Nigeria’s fight against tuberculosis remains fragile despite some progress in reducing deaths. The agency highlighted persistent challenges including funding shortfalls, stigma, malnutrition, and ongoing community transmission that could reverse recent gains if urgent interventions are not implemented.
Nigeria has seen a significant decline in TB mortality over the past decade, with deaths dropping by around 63 percent between 2015 and 2024. This progress reflects expanded access to treatment and improved care in clinics and hospitals nationwide. However, the overall incidence rate of TB — the number of new infections — has not decreased proportionally, indicating that transmission continues within communities and poses a threat to long-term control.
The country remains one of the highest TB-burden nations globally and the largest contributor to Africa’s TB cases. Estimates suggest that approximately 510,000 new cases occurred in 2024, with an incidence rate of 219 per 100,000 people. A significant number of cases remain undetected, contributing to ongoing transmission and undermining national efforts to curb the epidemic.
A major concern is the persistent funding gap for TB control. While Nigeria’s national TB programme required about $405 million in 2024 to cover essential prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services, only around 27 percent of this amount was mobilized. This shortfall severely limits the capacity of health services to provide consistent treatment, procure drugs, and conduct community outreach.
In response, the Federal Government allocated N73.4 billion to procure TB medications and expand diagnostic capacity, including the rollout of new diagnostic platforms in underserved regions. While these measures help prevent drug stock-outs and improve early detection, experts warn that far greater investment is needed to fully close the financing gap and sustain a robust national response.
Under-detection of TB remains a core challenge. Many individuals, especially in rural and low-income urban areas, do not access diagnostic services due to limited availability, social stigma, or lack of awareness. Malnutrition, which affects millions across Nigeria, increases susceptibility to TB and complicates recovery by weakening immune defenses.
Stigma continues to hinder early detection and treatment adherence. Misconceptions about TB and fear of social exclusion discourage individuals from seeking care, allowing the disease to spread within households and communities. Health authorities emphasize that public education and stigma reduction are as important as clinical interventions for controlling the epidemic.
WHO and partner organizations stress the need for strengthened domestic investment to sustain progress. The 2026 World TB Day theme, “Yes! We Can End TB,” underscores the importance of political commitment, community engagement, and expanded funding to achieve national and global targets for ending TB by 2030. Reliance on external funding alone is insufficient and leaves programs vulnerable to disruption.
Nigeria’s progress also depends on addressing social determinants of TB, including poverty, crowded living conditions, limited access to nutritious food, and under-resourced healthcare facilities. These factors contribute to ongoing transmission, particularly in rural and marginalized urban populations.
Efforts to modernize the national response have included the introduction of advanced diagnostic technologies, strengthened electronic reporting systems, and expanded community outreach to enhance case detection in remote areas. While these initiatives show promise, experts emphasize that coordinated investment at federal, state, and local levels is essential to maintain momentum and meet global TB targets.
Despite the challenges, TB remains preventable and treatable. WHO warns that without immediate action to address funding gaps, improve early detection, and combat social barriers such as stigma and malnutrition, Nigeria risks losing the progress it has achieved in reducing TB mortality. Sustained commitment from governments, donors, and communities is necessary to protect hard-won gains and move closer to ending the epidemic.
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