Kogi State’s Remarkable Rise in Healthcare Readiness
Kogi State has made a significant leap in its healthcare readiness, moving from 18th position in 2023 and 2024 to 10th position in the 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index. This achievement highlights the state’s progress in improving its ability to respond to health emergencies and deliver quality healthcare services.
The SBM Health Preparedness Index serves as a critical tool for evaluating the capacity of Nigeria’s 36 states to manage health crises effectively. The annual report compiles data from various credible national and international institutions, including the National Bureau of Statistics, World Health Organisation, The Lancet, Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, BudgIT, The Cable, the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Radboud University, and the Global Data Lab. These sources provide comprehensive insights into the state of healthcare across the country.
The index evaluates several key indicators such as budgetary commitments, human resource capacity, and health outcomes, using the most recent available data. Despite the fact that no state in Nigeria met the 30 per cent national target for health preparedness, Kogi State’s advancement is seen as a major step forward in its healthcare reform journey.
The state ministry of health highlighted that the improvement reflects the sustained investments made by the Ododo administration in healthcare infrastructure, personnel development, and community-based health delivery. This commitment has been instrumental in driving the state’s progress.
Dr Abdilazeez Adams, the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, described the improvement as “a testament to the strategic leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the dedication of the health workforce in Kogi State.” He assured that the State Government remains fully committed to strengthening the health system to achieve universal health coverage, enhance emergency response capacity, and surpass national benchmarks in the coming years.
“This is an encouraging development, but we are not relenting. We are scaling up investments in primary healthcare, training more professionals, and expanding access to quality medical services across all local government areas. Our ultimate goal is to make Kogi a model of resilience and efficiency in Nigeria’s health sector,” Dr Adams said.
Hon Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, also commented on the report. He noted that Kogi State continues to shine in healthcare delivery under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“This is a positive response to the challenge posed to the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdilazeez Adams, to move Kogi up from the 18th position she occupied in 2023 and 2024. The Ministry has done the needful, and now the Governor has further challenged the Health Team to push Kogi even higher,” he stated.
Fanwo added that the development reflects the tangible outcomes of the administration’s people-centred policies. “Our investment in health is paying off. This is the real measure of development, when governance directly improves lives and strengthens our health sector capacity,” he asserted.
This progress underscores the importance of sustained efforts in healthcare reform and the impact of strategic leadership. Kogi State’s rise in the SBM Health Preparedness Index serves as an inspiration for other states to follow suit and prioritize healthcare as a cornerstone of development.