The 2025 National Health Facility Survey (NHFS) has shown that 81.6 per cent of Nigeria’s public health facilities provided antenatal care (ANC) services, a modest increase from 79.7 per cent in 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics reported.
Secondary health facilities recorded higher ANC coverage at 92.6 per cent, while primary facilities lagged at 81.1 per cent. Most facilities offered key interventions such as folic acid (92.2 per cent), intermittent preventive treatment (88.9 per cent), and tetanus immunisation (94.0 per cent).
Nevertheless, gaps persist. Only 30.9 per cent of facilities provided antiretroviral therapy, while HIV testing for pregnant women was offered in 84.2 per cent. Family planning counselling was widely available (91.9 per cent), but access to contraceptives remained low, with less than a fifth of facilities stocking pills, injectables, male condoms, or implants.
Child immunisation coverage was moderate, hovering around 50 per cent across most vaccines, while knowledge of protocols to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission dropped to 68.6 per cent. Partner testing knowledge was also limited at 55.9 per cent.
Delivery and postnatal services were available in 70.1 per cent of facilities, with secondary facilities outperforming primary ones. Skilled birth attendants were present in 65.6 per cent of facilities when including Community Health Extension Workers, but only 13.8 per cent when excluded.
The survey also noted uneven availability of essential commodities such as oxytocin (57.7 per cent), magnesium sulphate (37.8 per cent), and infant resuscitation equipment (37.2 per cent). Postnatal care services were limited to just 18.6 per cent of facilities.
Covering 3,330 facilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the NHFS 2025 offers critical insights to guide resource allocation and policy planning for maternal, newborn, and child healthcare in Nigeria.
