NIGERIA PLEDGES 5 MILLION READING SPECTACLES, 25,000 SUBSIDISED CATARACT SURGERIES BY 2027

PRESS RELEASE
NIGERIA PLEDGES 5 MILLION READING SPECTACLES, 25,000 SUBSIDISED CATARACT SURGERIES BY 2027
St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda | 3 November 2026

The Federal Government has pledged to distribute five million pairs of ready-made reading spectacles and provide 25,000 fully subsidised cataract surgeries by 2027 as part of efforts to expand access to affordable eye care and eliminate avoidable vision loss among vulnerable populations.

The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced these commitments while delivering the closing address at the Global Summit for Eye Health in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, held under the theme, “From Commitments to a Shared Horizon of Sight.”

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to improved health outcomes under the President Bola Tinubu led administration, the Minister outlined additional targets, including the continued integration of Primary Eye Care into the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), training of 15,000 primary healthcare workers, a 20 per cent increase in the active eye care workforce and a 30-percentage-point improvement in Effective Cataract Surgical Coverage (eCSC) by 2030. These interventions are expected to expand access to quality eye care for more than 25 million vulnerable citizens, particularly women, older persons and underserved rural populations.

Describing eye health as fundamental to human development, Dr. Salako noted that avoidable vision loss affects not only individual health but also education, household welfare, personal safety and national productivity. He recalled his participation as a young medical officer in the JigiBola eye care initiative introduced in Lagos State about 25 years ago, noting that its evolution into the national Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative, known as JigiBola 2.0, demonstrates how successful state-level interventions can be scaled into broader national programmes.

The Minister also highlighted Nigeria’s participation in the World Health Organisation’s Global Cataract Surgery Initiative, known as SEE 2045, as an opportunity to accelerate efforts towards eliminating cataract-related blindness. He emphasised that achieving the country’s eye health targets would require sustained domestic financing, stronger public-private partnerships, collaboration with international development partners and accountability for commitments made.

Dr. Salako acknowledged the growing support of development and philanthropic partners at the summit, noting approximately US$60 million in pledges towards assistive technology, alongside 15 private-sector commitments valued at over US$468 million and approximately 143 additional commitments from organisations beyond government. He commended Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Tanzania and China for their participation in advancing the global eye health agenda.

He urged participating countries and partners to translate the commitments made at the summit into concrete national action, stressing that the ultimate measure of success would be the number of people whose sight is protected or restored through accessible, affordable and sustainable eye care services.

Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations