By Raymond Ken-Mbata
The Federal Government has begun moves to address fragmentation in Nigeria’s digital health system as it inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO).
The committee is expected to help coordinate health technology and data systems, promote interoperability and establish standards for digital solutions being deployed across the country’s health facilities.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on September 17, 2026, during the inaugural meeting of the committee at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare headquarters in Abuja.
Salako, who spoke on behalf of the Co-Chairmen of the committee, said the establishment of NHTDAO was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital health transformation.
He explained that the office would not take over the responsibilities of existing departments, agencies, programmes or initiatives in the health sector, but would provide a platform for better coordination and collaboration among them.
The Minister said Nigeria already had an approved digital health architecture endorsed by the National Council on Health, adding that the immediate challenge was to move from policy and documentation to actual implementation across the health system.
He said digital health was also an important component of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), stressing that the wider use of technology would be necessary to achieve the objectives of the ongoing health-sector reforms.
One of the major concerns identified by the Minister was the lack of adequate interconnection among electronic medical record systems currently operating in some health facilities.
He said some of the systems were not sufficiently standardised or interconnected, making it necessary for government to establish and enforce minimum standards for digital health solutions.
Salako called on members of the committee, government institutions and private-sector stakeholders to work together to strengthen the country’s digital health environment.
He said better coordination of technology and health data could lead to smarter health facilities, improved information sharing and more responsive healthcare services for Nigerians.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said data analytics should be used for more than preparing routine government reports.
She said properly deployed data should help government anticipate health challenges, identify inequalities, determine where resources are most needed, monitor performance and ultimately improve health outcomes.
Kachollom called for an inclusive digital transformation that would not widen the existing gap between urban and rural communities or leave underserved populations behind.
She assured members of the committee that the Ministry would provide the administrative and policy support required for the office to function effectively.
The Permanent Secretary also urged the committee to clearly define responsibilities, use available resources efficiently and avoid duplication among government institutions and programmes.
According to her, the broader objective should be to build a health information and technology system that can work across institutional boundaries and support a modern, resilient and people-centred healthcare system.
She listed interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, responsible use of artificial intelligence, data governance and patient confidentiality among the issues that would require close attention.
Kachollom said growing reliance on digital technology must go hand in hand with stronger safeguards to protect health information and maintain public confidence.
Also speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf expressed the hope that NHTDAO would develop guidelines to support interoperability, adoption and scaling of digital health solutions, while creating opportunities for increased private-sector investment.
Yusuf said the private sector had for years demonstrated its willingness to partner with government and assured that his organisation was ready to mobilise Nigerian businesses to support and participate in the implementation of the initiative.
Members of the inaugurated committee include the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S. mni; Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr. John Ovuoreye; Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani; Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri; and National Coordinator of the SWAp Office, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq.
Others are Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel James; Dr. Haruna Buhari; National Coordinator of PVAC, Dr. Abdul Mukhtar; and Yobe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammad Lawal Gana.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; and Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf are the Co-Chairmen of the committee.
The committee is expected to support the implementation of Nigeria’s digital health architecture and help create greater compatibility among the various technology and data systems used within the health sector.
About the Author
