Massive Cut to Family Planning Budget Sparks Outcry Amidst Donor Withdrawal

The Nigerian federal government has drastically reduced its national family planning budget for 2025, slashing it by a staggering 97% compared to previous years. This budgetary decision, announced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, has alarmed public health experts, development partners, and civil society advocates who say the move could reverse years of progress in reproductive health.

The cut comes at a critical time when donor support for Nigeria’s family planning programs is steadily declining, leaving an even greater funding gap for essential reproductive health services. Experts warn that this could jeopardize Nigeria’s ambitious goals to reduce maternal mortality, increase access to modern contraceptive methods, and manage rapid population growth.

From ₦4.6 Billion to Just ₦150 Million: A Crisis in Numbers

In 2024, Nigeria allocated ₦4.6 billion to fund family planning programs. But the proposed 2025 national budget sets aside a meager ₦150 million — an amount that stakeholders say is insufficient to meet the reproductive health needs of millions of Nigerian women and girls.

Reproductive health advocates argue that this drastic reduction undermines Nigeria’s commitment to its Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) goals, which include increasing the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) among women of reproductive age to 27% by 2030. Currently, Nigeria’s mCPR is less than 17%, one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Donor Funding on the Decline

Previously, much of Nigeria’s family planning programming was heavily supported by international donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNFPA, USAID, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. However, with growing global economic challenges, many of these partners have scaled down their support, urging the Nigerian government to take ownership of its reproductive health agenda.

This expectation prompted calls for increased domestic financing. But rather than stepping up, the federal government’s latest budget suggests a withdrawal from this responsibility — a development critics call both “shocking” and “dangerous.”

Public Health Experts Raise Red Flags

Dr. Ejike Okechukwu, a public health consultant in Abuja, described the budget cut as “a major blow to women’s health in Nigeria.” He warned that reduced funding could result in stockouts of contraceptive supplies, a rise in unplanned pregnancies, and increased strain on already overstretched maternal health services.

“We are likely to see more teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and higher maternal mortality figures if this is not urgently reversed,” he said.

Other experts point to the wider economic impact, noting that family planning is not just a health issue but also a tool for national development. Every ₦1 spent on family planning returns multiple times in socioeconomic benefits, from women’s empowerment to reduced dependency ratios and increased productivity.

The Implications for Women and Girls

With over 200 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation. Yet, millions of Nigerian women still face significant barriers to accessing reproductive health services, especially in rural areas. Reduced funding may lead to disruptions in service delivery at primary health centers, fewer outreach campaigns, and limited availability of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).

Young people, in particular, may suffer the consequences. A growing youth population means there’s an increasing demand for sexual and reproductive health education and services — needs that may now go unmet.

Calls for Urgent Policy Reversal

Civil society organizations, including the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) and the Center for Reproductive Rights, have called on the federal government to immediately review and restore the family planning budget. They stress the importance of sustained investment in family planning to meet Nigeria’s development targets and commitments under global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are deeply concerned that a 97% cut sends the wrong signal to both local and international partners about Nigeria’s seriousness in addressing reproductive health,” said Amina Ibrahim, a gender rights advocate.

Looking Ahead: Will the Government Reconsider?

As public pressure mounts, there are expectations that the federal legislature may intervene during the budget review process. Lawmakers with a track record of supporting health reforms could push for the reallocation of funds toward reproductive health.

Analysts believe that without meaningful financial investment in family planning, Nigeria risks derailing key health and development targets. The question now is whether the Tinubu administration will respond to the growing chorus of concern or stay the course on its controversial fiscal decision.