Frank Aigbogun, the publisher of BusinessDay Media Limited, has described healthcare as a critical component of Nigeria’s national security, warning that no country can achieve true security while its citizens remain burdened by illness.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing National Health Financing Dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday, he stressed the need for governments at all levels, alongside citizens, to take healthcare financing more seriously.
Aigbogun, has stressed that improved healthcare financing and wider insurance coverage are critical to Nigeria’s national security and overall development.
While describing the dialogue as timely and necessary, Aigbogun noted that healthcare challenges affect every Nigerian regardless of age or background.
“This has been a very good session. Talking about financing of health is a great thing. All of us either get ill or have relations who do, so this is something that affects everyone, young or old,” he said.
Aigbogun welcomed the presence of local government representatives at the dialogue, pointing out that their participation marked a shift in the discourse around health financing.
He observed that with the recent Supreme Court ruling granting local governments autonomy and direct access to federal allocations, councils must step up in fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities, particularly in healthcare delivery.
“If those duties do not properly align with the money they are getting now from the federation account, then I think there should be a constitutional amendment to assign specific responsibilities to local governments in Nigeria,” he argued.
While nderscoring the link between health and security, the media executive maintained that no nation could claim to be secure while its population remained plagued by sickness.
“Health care is a very good part of national security. You can’t talk about national security when you have sick people all over the country.
“It is a critical part of national security and I hope that governments, federal, state, and local will take the matter more seriously than we have done so far,” he added.
Aigbogun also cautioned against the notion that government alone can shoulder the burden of healthcare financing.
He urged citizens and private sector stakeholders to play their part in building a sustainable health system.
“It appears people think everything will be provided by government. It is not true. It is not done anywhere, and it will not happen. Nigerians themselves must rise up to play their own part as well,” he said.
The National Health Financing Dialogue, which convenes policymakers, development partners, private sector players, and civil society, is examining strategies to expand access to healthcare through sustainable financing models.
