The Nigerian government has successfully mobilised $2.2 billion in external finance to bolster the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

This significant funding, sourced from various development partners, aims to revitalise the country’s health sector.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU), housed within the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, to manage this initiative.

The SCO-PMU’s role is to ensure the efficient, transparent, and accountable administration of the external grants dedicated to implementing the NHSRII.

According to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the SCO-PMU will serve as the secretariat and delivery unit for the NHSRII.

The unit will report to a Steering Committee/Ministerial Oversight Committee, chaired by the Minister of Health, and comprising the Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary, and representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, along with relevant development partners.

The functions of the SCO-PMU include comprehensive programme management, monitoring and evaluation, engagement and supervision of Independent Verification Agents for NHSRII programmes, and fiduciary management. This structure is designed to ensure that the investment yields substantial improvements in the health sector.

President Tinubu also announced the appointment of Dr. Muntaqa Sadiq as the National Coordinator of the SCO-PMU. Dr. Sadiq brings over 17 years of experience across public health, impact investing, investment banking, energy, and climate financing.

His previous roles include Head of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, CEO of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Head of the Nigeria Energy Transition Office, and Private Sector Engagement Adviser at the World Bank.