Healthcare experts have underscored the role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, particularly in rural areas.
Speaking during a X (formerly Twitter) Space discussion hosted by Orodata Science, panelists emphasized the potential of PPPs in improving healthcare accessibility, reducing costs, and sustaining essential services.
Benedicta Elikor, who moderated the conversation, highlighted the severe strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that the country has only 55,000 doctors serving a population of 220 million.
Elikor also pointed to Nigeria’s ongoing Lassa fever outbreak, which has recorded 563 confirmed cases and 103 deaths in 2025. The disease has spread across 14 states, with Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi among the hardest hit. “Combined with meningitis outbreaks and malaria, these challenges highlight the urgent need for sustainable healthcare solutions,” she said.
Prof. Lutz Mukke, Director of Institutional Partnership Africa at Lecturio, stressed that the partnerships could significantly lower healthcare costs by pooling resources, making medical services more affordable and accessible.
“Nigeria possesses vast natural and human resources, including skilled healthcare professionals, which, when effectively utilized, can greatly enhance the quality of healthcare delivery across the country,” Mukke stated.
However, he warned that many PPP projects have short lifespans, often lasting only a few years. “For these initiatives to thrive and achieve long-term objectives, the government must ensure their sustainability through strategic policies that support ongoing operations, maintenance, and funding,” he added.
Dr. Rita Ajirenike, a health analyst with the Rivers State Hospital Board, emphasized the role of PPPs in improving rural healthcare. She noted that one major barrier to quality healthcare in these areas is the lack of adequate housing for medical professionals.
“By providing well-structured and accessible housing solutions, PPPs can attract skilled medical personnel to underserved regions and ensure a more stable healthcare workforce,” she said.
Ajirenike also highlighted governance and financial mismanagement as major obstacles to effective healthcare funding. “Poor oversight and lack of accountability often lead to resource mismanagement, depriving rural communities of essential healthcare services,” she said.
According to her, private companies can support healthcare delivery by offering logistics support, telemedicine solutions, and capacity-building programs for healthcare workers. “By collaborating with private entities, healthcare facilities can improve patient care efficiency, accessibility, and quality,” she added.
Reflecting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ajirenike stressed the importance of strengthening workforce capacity, integrating advanced technology into healthcare infrastructure, and improving data collection and analysis.
“The pandemic underscored the need for standardized data systems to guide decision-making and emphasized the importance of continuous training for healthcare workers to respond effectively to future crises,” she stated.
Orodata Science, the event’s host, is a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving data accessibility for citizens, civil society, and the media, fostering equitable access to information.