Nigeria Faces N17.9 Trillion Annual Losses and Thousands of Deaths from Hepatitis, Government Reveals

According to reports by iReporter Online, Nigeria is grappling with a staggering public health and economic crisis as hepatitis continues to take an alarming toll on the nation. Federal health authorities have disclosed that the country loses between ₦13.3 trillion and ₦17.9 trillion annually in both direct and indirect costs linked to the disease. In addition, approximately 4,252 Nigerians die each year from liver cancer associated with untreated hepatitis.

This revelation was made public by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, during a press briefing commemorating the 2025 World Hepatitis Day. Represented by Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Director of Public Health, the minister emphasized the urgent need to address hepatitis, noting that Nigeria has the third-highest hepatitis burden globally, with over 20 million individuals affected by Hepatitis B and C.

Despite the availability of vaccines and treatments, over 90% of those infected remain undiagnosed and unknowingly transmit the virus, often mistaking symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and malaise for malaria. Many only discover the infection when it has progressed to chronic liver damage or cancer.

In response, the Federal Government has launched a nationwide campaign known as Project 365, which will involve year-long constituency-by-constituency screenings, diagnostics, and treatment services. The initiative aims to eliminate Hepatitis C and significantly interrupt Hepatitis B transmission by 2030. The government also announced increased funding, the creation of a viral elimination fund, tax incentives for local pharmaceutical companies, regulatory reforms, and expanded access to testing and treatment across the country.

Support for the initiative was echoed by international health bodies. The Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) expressed confidence in Nigeria’s leadership in the fight against hepatitis. In a statement delivered by Technical Officer Titilola Munkail, Africa CDC pledged continued collaboration in achieving a hepatitis-free continent.

Former Head of State and Presidential Ambassador on Viral Hepatitis Control, General Yakubu Gowon, praised the government’s commitment, calling for a unified national effort to overcome stigma, misinformation, and inadequate access to care. Represented by Adeyeye Ajayi, Gowon encouraged all Nigerians to engage in advocacy, education, and awareness-building around the disease.

Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator of the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme, also emphasized community engagement as key to success. He urged Nigerians to adopt preventive practices including safe sex, use of condoms, and abstinence to reduce transmission rates. While hepatitis C is curable, he noted that hepatitis B can only be managed through long-term medication following proper diagnosis.

In Kano State alone, over 1.2 million people are currently infected with Hepatitis B. According to the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, the state government has released ₦95 million to fund the “HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies” initiative, which provides free screening and treatment for pregnant women. Additional funding of ₦135 million is awaiting approval to expand the programme. Newborns in participating hospitals are now given free hepatitis vaccinations at birth, and blood screening for hepatitis is now a standard requirement in all transfusion centres across the state.

Stakeholders have called on development partners, private organizations, and the media to intensify efforts in advocacy, funding, and public education to end the hepatitis crisis.