The Federal Government has introduced a new policy framework to standardise the procurement of medicines and health products nationwide, while reaffirming its commitment to eliminate rabies by 2030 in line with global health targets.
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, announced the reform yesterday in Abuja at the Celebration of Success ceremony for graduates of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Programme.
Ahmadu said the framework is designed to guarantee quality, affordability, and value for money in Nigeria’s healthcare system. He explained that the reform would close loopholes that enable waste, fake drugs, and inflated contracts, while professionalising procurement services. He urged newly certified procurement officers to register on the National Procurement Officers Management System to strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability.
On rabies, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, speaking at a joint ministerial briefing to mark World Rabies Day 2025, stressed that eradicating the disease requires community effort.
“It requires you, me, and our communities working hand-in-hand. Together, we can make Nigeria rabies-free,” he said.
Maiha noted ongoing nationwide vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats, alongside measures to improve veterinary services in underserved areas. Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate, also pledged continued government support, while Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, warned that rabies is “almost 100 per cent fatal once symptoms appear but entirely preventable through vaccination and responsible pet ownership.”
Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) raised concern over cholera, mpox, and Ebola outbreaks. Deputy Incident Manager, Yap Boum, said climate change-driven flooding is worsening epidemics and limiting humanitarian access. He identified Chad as a critical hotspot, with cholera spreading from refugee camps into new health zones, while Ebola remains a concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo despite progress in tracing and vaccination.
He welcomed new commitments announced on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, including Gavi’s pledge of 10 million doses of mpox vaccines and UNICEF’s support for Africa CDC’s response plan.
