The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on Monday hosted a high-level meeting with the leadership of Médecins Sans Frontières Nigeria to discuss the renewal of their Federal Cooperation Agreement and deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian operations across the country.
The meeting, held in Abuja, brought together key government officials and representatives of the international medical humanitarian organisation to review ongoing programmes and identify ways to improve service delivery in vulnerable communities.
During the discussions, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting humanitarian initiatives and strengthening cooperation with development and aid partners.
Bagudu acknowledged that while humanitarian organisations like MSF have played a critical role in delivering healthcare and emergency services, several structural challenges continue to hinder effective service delivery in many parts of the country.
Among the issues highlighted were limited infrastructure across many local government areas, weak laboratory capacity caused by irregular electricity supply and shortages of essential equipment, as well as inadequate ambulance and emergency response services.
The minister also noted that uneven health system performance across wards and regions has contributed to disparities in access to healthcare services.
He pointed out that development indicators remain particularly challenging in several northern states, where poverty levels, limited healthcare infrastructure and other socio-economic factors continue to affect public health outcomes.
Bagudu further stressed that community perceptions and levels of trust in public programmes often influence the success of health interventions, adding that improving public engagement and participation would be essential for the effectiveness of humanitarian initiatives.
He also emphasised the importance of better allocation and management of public resources, noting that efficient use of available funds would help strengthen the country’s healthcare system and improve emergency response capacity.
Officials at the meeting expressed optimism that the renewed cooperation agreement between the Federal Government and MSF would enhance coordination, strengthen humanitarian operations and improve access to essential healthcare services for vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
