The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria loses between ₦13.3 trillion and ₦17.9 trillion every year due to direct and indirect costs associated with hepatitis disease.
The government also noted that over 4,200 Nigerians die annually from liver cancer caused by untreated cases of the disease.
Naija News reports that this was disclosed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday to mark World Hepatitis Day 2025, themed “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.”
Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Godwin Ntadom, Pate said Nigeria bears the third-highest hepatitis burden globally, with over 20 million Nigerians living with Hepatitis B and C.
Pate noted that 18.2 million Nigerians are affected by Hepatitis B, while 2.5 million live with Hepatitis C. Alarmingly, over 90% of those infected are undiagnosed and unknowingly spread the virus.
“Symptoms are often misdiagnosed as malaria,” he said.
“Conditions such as fever, fatigue, and malaise are typically treated with self-medication while the virus silently damages the liver and may lead to liver failure or cancer.”
The minister added that 4,252 Nigerians die annually from liver cancer caused by untreated hepatitis, and that the socioeconomic cost to the country is staggering.
“Nigeria loses between ₦13.3tn and ₦17.9tn annually in direct and indirect costs,” Pate stated.
FG Launches ‘Project 365’ To Combat Hepatitis
In response to the alarming statistics, the Federal Government announced the launch of Project 365, a nationwide, year-long constituency-by-constituency screening, diagnosis, and treatment campaign aimed at eliminating Hepatitis C and halting the transmission of Hepatitis B by 2030.
Other key initiatives include:
- Increased budgetary allocation to hepatitis control
- Establishment of a viral hepatitis elimination fund
- Tax incentives and regulatory reforms to encourage local pharmaceutical production
- Legislative support to expand diagnostic and treatment access nationwide
Africa CDC, Gowon Backs Nigeria’s Response
The Africa CDC, in a goodwill message delivered by its Technical Officer, Titilola Munkail, praised Nigeria’s leadership in disease control.
“We are hopeful that Nigeria will continue to lead in the elimination of harmful diseases,” she said.
Nigeria’s former Head of State and Presidential Ambassador on Viral Hepatitis Elimination, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), commended the efforts of the Ministry of Health, WHO, and healthcare workers.
Represented by Adeyeye Ajayi, Gowon said, “Let us reaffirm our commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. I urge everyone to join hands in this fight, promoting awareness, education, and collective action.”
1.2 Million Infected In Kano, ₦95 Million Released For Maternal Care
Naija News understands that in Kano State, over 1.2 million residents are currently living with Hepatitis B.
Speaking at the state’s World Hepatitis Day briefing, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, announced that the government had released ₦95 million for the procurement of rapid test kits and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, a key drug for preventing mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B.
He said the state’s ‘HepFree Mothers, Healthy Babies’ initiative, launched in February 2025, provides free screening and treatment for pregnant women in seven major hospitals across Kano.
“In addition, health workers have been deployed to labour wards to administer free hepatitis vaccines to newborns, aiming to curb vertical transmission, which accounts for up to 80% of infections,” Yusuf said.
He added that an additional ₦135 million was awaiting approval to expand the programme.
Blood screening is now mandatory in Kano hospitals
Yusuf also revealed that blood transfusion centres in both public and private hospitals now conduct mandatory hepatitis screening.
Calling for greater collaboration, he appealed to development partners, private sector players, and the media to support the state’s hepatitis elimination campaign.
“With collective effort, we can eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in Kano and across Nigeria,” the commissioner said.
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