Nigeria’s First Lady Reaffirms FG’s Commitment to Ending Tuberculosis by 2030
By Hajara Abdullahi
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ending tuberculosis (TB) by 2030 during the 39th Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting held on Wednesday in Manila, Philippines.
This was contained in a statement signed and posted on X by the First Lady’s Senior Special Assistant, Busola Kukoyi, on Wednesday.
Senator Tinubu, who served as the Special Guest of Honour, addressed a gathering of over 180 participants from 47 countries, stating that Nigeria is working to reduce reliance on donor funding while building a resilient system to prevent any setbacks in achieving the goal of ending TB by 2030.
She noted that, through the Federal Government’s commitment, the number of people infected with TB has not increased, which underscores Nigerians’ dedication to eradicating the disease.
“I am equally pleased to share that, despite the temporary shifts in support from some financing partners, Nigeria’s efforts in the fight against TB have remained strong. Through steadfast leadership, community engagement, and strategic national coordination, we have ensured that the number of people diagnosed and treated for TB in 2025 did not decline. This stands as a testament to the power of country ownership and the commitment of Nigerians who continue to drive this response forward, even in the face of uncertainty,” she said.
The First Lady emphasized that TB remains the deadliest infectious disease and a major public health threat due to its airborne nature.
“Health for all begins in our communities; therefore, coming together for the Stop TB Partnership Board Meetings reminds us that the fight against tuberculosis is not finished,” she stated.
Senator Tinubu further revealed that the disease kills about 1.3 million people globally each year, noting that Nigeria remains one of the eight countries accounting for more than half of global TB cases.
“It claims close to 1.3 million lives each year. In Nigeria, we remain among the eight countries that account for two-thirds of global TB cases, with an estimated 479,000 Nigerians developing TB in 2023 and more than 150,000 deaths recorded. These are not just numbers, they are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters whose lives compel us to act with urgency and compassion,” she said.
The First Lady commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, its affiliate agencies, the Stop TB Partnership, and other stakeholders for their dedication and transparency in ensuring that funds allocated for TB interventions and integration into primary healthcare are judiciously utilized.
The Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr. Lucica Ditiu, while presenting the board report, emphasized the importance of integrating data systems with national governments to end TB by 2030.
“In five countries, within the last two months, new facilities for grants have been deployed, leading to 8,000 people being screened, 5,000 diagnosed, and 3,000 enrolled in preventive treatment,” Ditiu said.
She concluded that for countries to make greater and sustained progress, governments must take ownership of TB responses and include survivors and civil society organizations in the fight against the disease.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, was among the attendees. The 38th edition of the Stop TB Partnership Board Meeting was held in Abuja in 2024.
