New Report: No Nigerian State Meets 30% Benchmark for Health Emergency Readiness
STORY: WRITTEN BY UZUH RITA NOVEMBER 6,2025
Nigeria’s healthcare system has been flagged as dangerously unprepared for disease outbreaks, as not a single state reached a 30% score in the 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index (HPI), released in November 2025.
The nationwide assessment examined the ability of all 36 states to handle health emergencies and deliver quality medical services. The results show widespread structural weaknesses, underinvestment, and failing infrastructure—problems compounded by the continued migration of medical professionals abroad.
The highest score recorded was just 26.85%, highlighting a deep gap in emergency response capability and essential healthcare delivery. According to the report, the persistent “Japa Syndrome”—the mass departure of doctors, nurses, and health workers—has made an already fragile system even weaker due to poor pay, insecurity, harsh working conditions, and weak government support.
Sharp North–South disparities
The HPI also revealed wide regional inequalities. Northern states ranked among the weakest, with Kebbi (13.31) and Katsina (12.54) sitting at the bottom of the index. Ebonyi ranked lowest in the South with 12.85%, driven by low health spending and a worrying doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:21,202.
Meanwhile, Abia emerged number one nationwide, scoring 26.85% thanks to higher per capita health spending (₦22,926) and a stronger Human Development Index. Ogun (23.52) and Lagos (23.08) completed the top three performers.
Despite these relatively higher scores, the findings show that every state in Nigeria remains underprepared for future epidemics or pandemics—posing a serious risk to public health and national security.
