Nigeria has successfully reduced tuberculosis-related deaths by 63% over the period spanning 2015 to 2024, according to Dr. Dan Gadzama, the Director of the Public Health Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Furthermore, the nation has attained an impressive 94% success rate in treating TB cases, underscoring the effectiveness of early diagnosis and appropriate medical intervention for the disease.
Dr. Gadzama shared these achievements on Saturday during an official World TB Day 2026 Community Outreach event held in Mabushi Community, an area within Nigeria's capital city, Abuja.
The report indicates that the substantial 63% decrease in TB mortality between 2015 and 2024 is a direct result of ongoing, concerted efforts involving government agencies, partner organizations, and community participation.
The outreach programme was organized by the FCT Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (FCT-TBLCP) in partnership with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria, and several other development partners. Many residents in the Mabushi community received free TB testing, counselling, and treatment during the event.
Addressing attendees, Dr. Gadzama emphasized the significance of the day, stating, “Today, we gather not just to commemorate a day, but to reaffirm our collective commitment to ending one of the world’s oldest infectious diseases—Tuberculosis.
He acknowledged that TB continues to pose a major global and national health challenge, stating, “Tuberculosis remains a major public health concern globally and nationally. Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to claim lives and disrupt families and communities.
Globally, an estimated 10.7 million individuals contracted TB in 2024, leading to 1.23 million deaths, with 150,000 of these occurring among people living with HIV. Nigeria is identified as one of the nations grappling with a high burden of the disease.
“However, I am pleased to note that we are making significant progress. At the national level, under the NTBLCP’s leadership, Nigeria has recorded remarkable achievements.
“The country reported over 467,000 TB cases in 2025, the highest ever in our history. This reflects improved case detection and stronger programmatic implementation,” Gadzama reported.
He further highlighted the FCT-TBLCP's own successes in 2025, noting that they identified and screened over 40,171 presumptive TB clients, leading to the notification of 3,679 TB cases, which represents a historic high for the programme.
Abolaji Akinola, who represented the National Coordinator of NTBLCP, encouraged the public to be proactive about their health by getting tested for tuberculosis, emphasizing the availability of free testing services.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also commented on the situation, stating that despite existing challenges, the global community has achieved notable advancements in TB diagnostics, treatment modalities, the integration of digital tools, and the adoption of community-focused care strategies.
The article was reported by Onyebuchi Ezigbo.
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