In a startling revelation that can’t be ignored, Dr. Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has disclosed that Nigeria is shockingly responsible for around 14 percent of global maternal deaths and 9 percent of under-five fatalities. 

Delivering his message at the second day of the 2025 Joint Annual Review Meeting in Abuja,an event with the theme “All hands, one mission: Bringing Nigeria’s health sector to light”,Dr. Salako positioned himself as the voice of reason amidst chaos. 

Maternal deaths, the result of complications during pregnancy or childbirth, continue to plague Nigeria, a fact so alarming it practically screams for action. Dr. Salako cited preliminary findings from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, indicating a Maternal Mortality Ratio of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births,a marginal improvement from 576 in 2018. The situation for under-fives is only slightly better, with the mortality rate now at 110 per 1,000 live births, down from 132 just five years ago, while neonatal mortality stands at a concerning 41 per 1,000.

Although Dr. Salako pointed to some so-called "positive trends," such as an increase in Skilled Birth Attendance from 43 percent to 53 percent and a rise in full immunization coverage from 31 percent to 39 percent, one has to question: are these numbers truly enough for a nation of Nigeria’s stature? With the government still accounting for a staggering share of global health tragedies, the question remains,what more can be done?

Dr. Salako did not shy away from highlighting the urgent need for reform, asserting that President Bola Tinubu is at the helm of coordinated efforts to turn the tides on these alarming statistics. “The government is aware of these challenges,” he stated, as if mere acknowledgment could change the status quo. Initiatives like the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agenda are touted as game-changers, promising a resilient health system. 

The Minister lamented, “Too many mothers still die in childbirth, too many children don’t reach their fifth birthday, and too many families are impoverished by healthcare costs.” 

In a fervent closing plea, Dr. Salako urged stakeholders to recommit to strengthening the health system, insisting that “only healthy people can translate to a healthy nation.” But can we place our faith in yet another call for action? As Nigeria grapples with these monumental challenges, one can only hope that the words spoken today lead to real, impactful change,because at this rate, waiting for tomorrow’s promises might just cost lives.