First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu has described Tuberculosis (TB) as a national emergency requiring urgent attention, emphasizing that the disease is both preventable and curable.
To strengthen efforts against TB in Nigeria, she announced an additional N1 billion contribution from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). This comes after her previous donation of N1 billion in 2024 to support the national TB response.
Speaking at a community outreach in Sauka, Abuja, to mark the 2025 World TB Day, Tinubu expressed deep concern over the World Health Organization’s 2024 Global TB Report, which reveals that one person dies from TB every seven minutes.
She stated, “This means that, in the short time we will spend at this event, many more lives will be lost if we do not act swiftly and decisively.”
Despite being a treatable illness, Nigeria remains one of the top eight countries globally with the highest TB burden. Tinubu pointed out that stigma, lack of awareness, and delays in seeking medical care contribute to the persistence of the disease.
“It is unacceptable that so many of our brothers and sisters still suffer from this disease in silence due to stigma, lack of awareness, and the ignorance of not visiting a healthcare facility on time,” she said.
Urging Nigerians to take TB seriously, the First Lady emphasized the importance of testing and early detection. “If you have a persistent cough for more than two weeks, do not ignore it but rather seek medical help immediately,” she advised.
Tinubu highlighted the government’s commitment to expanding TB testing and treatment centers nationwide, ensuring free TB treatment, and strengthening community-based healthcare to reach vulnerable populations. However, she stressed that achieving the goal of ending TB by 2030 requires a collective effort.
She called on traditional and religious leaders, lawmakers, healthcare professionals, private sector organizations, and international partners to join forces in combating the disease.
“Today we are reminded of the devastating impact tuberculosis (TB) has on our communities, yet it is also a day of renewed hope, commitment, and action,” she said.
Reaffirming her commitment as both a National and Global Stop TB Champion, Tinubu pledged to continue advocating for increased funding, policy reforms, and greater awareness to eliminate TB.
“To our healthcare workers, volunteers, community, and religious leaders, your dedication is the backbone of this fight. I thank you. Yes, We Can End TB by 2030! We Fit Do Am! Together, let us make the dream of a TB-free Nigeria a reality,” she said.
The First Lady also commended the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other stakeholders for their continued efforts.
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Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, also spoke at the event, describing TB as a major public health challenge in Nigeria. He noted that the country ranks first in Africa and sixth globally in TB burden, with 499,000 new cases recorded in 2023.
Salako attributed the high TB prevalence to factors such as stigma, poverty, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to healthcare. However, he acknowledged significant progress, citing a record-high notification of over 400,000 TB cases in 2024, with a 79% detection rate.
Despite these achievements, he cautioned that many cases still go undetected, contributing to community transmission. “An untreated TB patient can infect 12–15 people annually,” he warned.
Highlighting government efforts, Salako emphasized the importance of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the TB National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2021–2026 in strengthening TB screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
He underscored the significance of World TB Day in raising awareness and mobilizing resources, calling on all stakeholders—including the government, media, private sector, and civil society—to intensify the fight against TB.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed Global and National Stop TB Champion, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for your unwavering support in our efforts to eradicate TB in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
Salako revealed that the First Lady’s previous N1 billion donation had facilitated the procurement of 25 TB molecular diagnostic machines and reagents, enabling over 15,000 Nigerians to be tested for TB.
The funds are also being used to support the development of the National TB Policy.
