Connected Development (CODE) has launched a new project to promote transparency, accountability and domestic financing for Nigeria’s health security and epidemic preparedness.
The non-profit organisation announced in a press release signed by its communications and media relations officer, Nankpak Cirfat, on Monday, January 19, 2026, that the initiative is part of an analysis and capstone project of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, which is supported by Resolve To Save Lives.
Titled “Tracking BHCPF NCDC Gateway Funds for Strengthening Health Security in Nigeria (Project Track – BHCPF),” the group added that the project is designed to deliver measurable outcomes, including improved transparency on Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gateway disbursements.
It said the programme also seeks independent evidence to support oversight and performance assessment, stronger data-driven advocacy for domestic health security financing, and a replicable accountability framework for tracking health security investments.
The statement went on to highlight that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) remains the country’s primary domestic financing mechanism for strengthening the health system, and within this framework, the NCDC gateway is the only BHCPF channel that directly supports disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, and emergency coordination.
Furthermore, it noted that, despite the introduction of BHCPF 2.0 in October 2025 by the Nigerian government, which strengthened accountability and performance expectations, public visibility into NCDC gateway disbursements and utilisation remains limited, as Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness and response capacity depends significantly on sustained domestic financing for health security.
“Increased domestic financing commitments have not been matched with transparent utilisation data, weakening performance assessment and constraining policy-relevant advocacy,” the press circular stated.
Therefore, through this initiative, CODE aims to generate actionable evidence within six months (January-June 2026) to support improved oversight, learning, and sustained investment in health security.
It went on to reveal that the Project Track BHCPF will apply CODE’s FollowTheMoney accountability methodology, combining Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, policy and guideline reviews, administrative data analysis, and a focused sub-national case study to assess preparedness outcomes.
According to the organisation, advocacy efforts will include the production of policy briefs aligned with national budget and oversight cycles, structured engagement with oversight bodies and decision-makers, and strategic media engagement to strengthen public accountability.
“This is a timely response to the critical need for transparency and accountability in how domestic resources for epidemic preparedness are utilised, and also strengthening health security is not only about funding but about accountability and learning,” said Hyeladzira Mshelia, CODE’s acting chief executive officer.
Mshelia submitted that, through Project Track – BHCPF, CODE aims to maintain its commitment to enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen-driven oversight within Nigeria’s health sector. The initiative seeks to ensure that domestic health security financing leads to measurable outcomes in preparedness and resilience.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja