Oloriegbe Calls For N4 Billion Mental Health Fund In 2026 Budget

Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Chairman of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has urged the Federal Government to make mental health a priority in Nigeria’s healthcare agenda by establishing a N4 billion Mental Health Fund in the 2026 national budget.

Speaking at the Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Workshop in Ibadan on Thursday, Oloriegbe stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful health outcomes without giving mental health the same attention as physical health. The workshop, hosted under the auspices of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), drew participants from 19 African countries, highlighting the continent-wide push to address mental health challenges.

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“There is No Health Without Mental Health”

In his keynote address, Oloriegbe lamented that Nigeria still channels nearly 80% of its health resources toward physical health while mental health remains neglected. According to him, this imbalance undermines the nation’s progress because mental health is deeply interconnected with physical and social well-being.

“There is no health without mental health,” he declared. “Many physical illnesses are triggered by underlying mental conditions, and untreated mental challenges can equally manifest physically.”

He warned that ignoring mental health would not only continue to increase the burden of disease but also hinder productivity, social stability, and economic growth.

Mental Health Act 2023 Yet to Be Implemented

Oloriegbe, who played a pivotal role in sponsoring the Mental Health Act 2023 during his time in the 9th Senate, expressed disappointment that the law is yet to be fully implemented.

He emphasized that the Act, which replaced the outdated Lunacy Act of 1958, was designed to create protections, standards, and structures for mental health care in Nigeria. However, progress has stalled due to a lack of political will and funding.

“To give life to the Act, I called for the urgent establishment of a Mental Health Department at the Federal Ministry of Health,” he said. “I also advocated for the creation and proper funding of a Mental Health Fund, with a minimum of N4 billion to be allocated in the 2026 budget. These steps will ensure that services are accessible, particularly to vulnerable groups, while also tackling the growing cases of substance abuse and suicide among young people.”

Mental Health and National Stability

The NHIA Chairman went beyond medical considerations, linking mental health directly to economic growth and national security.

“When citizens are mentally unwell, their ability to contribute positively to society is impaired, and the ripple effects are felt across every sector,” he explained. “Addressing mental health, therefore, means addressing the very foundations of national stability and progress.”

He commended the Africa CDC, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and other partners for investing in leadership training and advocacy for mental health. According to him, such collaborations are vital for creating widespread awareness and integrating mental health into Africa’s broader health systems.

“The time to act is now,” Oloriegbe declared, pledging to continue working with stakeholders locally and across the continent to ensure mental health receives the policy focus and resources it deserves.

Nigeria’s Mental Health Burden

The urgency of Oloriegbe’s call is underscored by sobering statistics:

• 1 in 4 Nigerians — roughly 50 million people — live with a mental health condition.
• Yet, less than 10% of those affected receive any form of professional treatment.
• Nigeria has fewer than 300 psychiatrists serving over 220 million citizens.
• According to WHO, Nigeria has only 0.09 psychiatrists and 0.07 psychologists per 100,000 people, far below global recommendations.

Stigma remains a major barrier, as mental illness is often misinterpreted as a spiritual issue or linked to witchcraft. This misconception drives many to seek help from religious or traditional healers instead of professional care, delaying effective treatment and sometimes worsening conditions.

Funding Gaps and Policy Neglect

Despite the scale of the crisis, Nigeria dedicates less than 3% of its health budget to mental health services. More broadly, the Federal Government allocates under 15% of its total budget to healthcare, far below the 15% benchmark recommended by the African Union.

Without a dedicated carve-out for mental health, interventions remain piecemeal, underfunded, and poorly coordinated.

Oloriegbe’s call for a N4 billion Mental Health Fund would represent the first significant ring-fenced investment in mental health at the federal level, potentially changing the narrative for millions of Nigerians struggling in silence.

Oloriegbe’s advocacy reflects growing recognition across Africa that mental health must be integrated into public health policy. For Nigeria, where rising cases of depression, drug abuse, and suicide among young people threaten national productivity and social cohesion, the stakes are even higher.

Experts argue that with adequate funding, Nigeria can scale up services, recruit and train more mental health professionals, integrate mental healthcare into primary health systems, and mount national campaigns to fight stigma.

By pushing for a dedicated budget line, Oloriegbe has placed the issue squarely on the table as policymakers begin to shape the 2026 budget. Whether the government heeds this call could determine whether millions of Nigerians gain access to the care they desperately need.

As Nigeria faces mounting health challenges, Oloriegbe’s message is clear: mental health must no longer be sidelined. His push for a N4 billion fund signals a bold attempt to shift policy focus toward a more inclusive and holistic healthcare system.

If implemented, the fund could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s healthcare delivery, moving mental health from the margins to the mainstream. For a country where the weight of stigma and neglect has silenced millions, this could be the long-awaited step toward healing and national renewal.