By Lizzy Carr
The Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), in collaboration with its Communities of Practice (CoP) in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Sokoto States, has released findings from the 2025 Immunization Budget Accountability Scorecard, highlighting government commitments, budget allocations, fund releases and immunization service delivery outcomes across selected states.
This was contained in a press release signed by the Convener and Chief Executive Officer of AHBN, Dr Amina Maigashi Garba.
The statement explained that, building on years of evidence based tracking and citizen-led accountability, the scorecard assessed how public financing translates into equitable access to life-saving vaccines. Although the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) initiativesupported by GAVI with technical partnership from AFENETformally concluded in December 2025, AHBN and its Communities of Practice reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining accountability efforts aimed at reaching zero-dose children in 2026 and beyond.
Findings from Bauchi State showed a notable milestone in 2025, with the State Government allocating and fully releasing ₦872 million into the Immunization Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Basket Fund.
AHBN noted that the 100 per cent release demonstrated strong political will and continuity in financing routine immunization. However, despite this achievement, immunization outcomes remain a concern.
The scorecard revealed that Penta 1 and Penta 3 coverage rates remain below 40 per cent, indicating a gap between financial inputs and service delivery.
AHBN therefore called for stronger implementation, intensified community outreach, and demand-creation strategies to ensure that released funds translate into improved coverage and that no child in Bauchi State is left behind.
In Sokoto State, the government released ₦365 million for immunization programmes in 2025, marking a positive step toward strengthening routine immunization financing.
However, the scorecard identified the need for improved data transparency and accessibility.
AHBN and the Community of Practice urged the Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Planning to leverage existing platforms, including government websites, to regularly publish timely and comprehensive quarterly budget performance reports, thereby strengthening evidence-based decision-making and public trust.
Kano State recorded a historic breakthrough in 2025, with a total of ₦1.4 billion allocated to immunization services—an increase from ₦528 million in 2024.
This substantial investment reflects increased prioritization of immunization within the state’s health agenda.
Encouragingly, the increased allocation was matched by improved outcomes, with Penta 1 and Penta 3 coverage rates exceeding 65 per cent. To consolidate these gains and further reduce the number of zero-dose children,
AHBN and the Community of Practice urged the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KNSPHCMB) to ensure timely and adequate disbursement of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to primary healthcare facilities.
AHBN called on all state governments to sustain and scale up investments in routine immunization, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and prioritize reaching every zero-dose child as a matter of equity, public health security and sustainable development.
Leave a Comment