Nigeria facing TB epidemic: records over 500,000 new cases annually

Nigeria is facing a TB epidemic that’s nothing short of devastating. As Africa’s hardest-hit nation and the world’s sixth-most affected country, we’re staring down over 500,000 new TB infections annually—that’s one new case every minute! In 2024 alone, an estimated 506,000 people developed active TB, with a record over 400,000 cases detected and notified—79% of the total, marking our best detection year yet but still leaving over 100,000 “missing” cases fueling silent transmission.

Globally, Nigeria accounts for 4.8% of all new TB cases, ranking us among the top eight hotspots alongside India and Indonesia, which together drive 67% of the world’s burden. Tragically, TB kills one Nigerian every eight minutes—around 68,000 lives lost yearly—often in the prime working ages of 25-44, deepening poverty and straining families. Children aren’t spared: We’ve boosted pediatric notifications from 8,293 in 2018 to 43,000 in 2024, but stigma, undernutrition, HIV co-infection (affecting ~140,000 cases), and overcrowding keep rates alarmingly high.

Nigeria’s tuberculosis (TB) epidemic remains a grave public health emergency, with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) reporting persistent high burdens despite notable detection gains. As the country with Africa’s highest TB load and ranking sixth globally among high-burden nations, Nigeria saw an estimated 506,000 new infections in 2024, according to NTBLCP data shared during the 2025 World TB Day events. This translates to roughly one new case every minute, with the Ministry highlighting that factors like poverty, overcrowding, malnutrition, and HIV co-infection—impacting about 13% of TB patients—exacerbate transmission, particularly in urban slums and among women and children.

The NTBLCP’s 2023 Annual Report, released under the Ministry’s oversight, documented a record 371,019 notified cases—surpassing the year’s targets by over 100% and reflecting intensified active case-finding efforts in clinics, communities, and high-risk groups. This marked a significant leap from 285,561 notifications in 2022, with treatment success rates climbing to 93%—a testament to expanded GeneXpert testing and free diagnostics now available in over 57% of health facilities nationwide, as announced by Coordinating Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate during 2025 World TB Day briefings. Pediatric cases have also seen progress, with notifications rising from 8,293 in 2018 to around 43,000 by 2024, thanks to child-friendly interventions like free chest X-rays.

Yet, the Ministry warns of a deepening gap: Over 100,000 cases remain “missing” annually, fueling undetected spread and contributing to 71,000 deaths in 2023—about 18% of Africa’s TB fatalities and one life lost every eight minutes, mostly among productive adults aged 25-44. Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) adds urgency, with Nigeria holding Africa’s second-highest MDR-TB burden and a global treatment success rate of just 71%; NTBLCP reports improved detection but persistent gaps in shorter, all-oral regimens. The National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2021-2025, led by the Ministry, targets a 50% prevalence drop and 75% mortality reduction by 2025, led by the Ministry, targets a 50% prevalence drop and 75% mortality reduction by 2025, but funding shortfalls loom large: Global support dipped to $5.9 billion worldwide in 2024 (far below the $22 billion needed), with Nigeria facing a $404 million gap for 2025 services amid US aid cuts and Global Fund allocations shrinking to $89 million this year.

Under Minister Pate’s leadership, the NTBLCP has integrated TB into broader health services, including HIV programs via PEPFAR and community sensitization drives, doubling states reporting over 1,000 quarterly cases from 13 in 2020 to 27 in 2023. Still, Director of Public Health Dr. Godwin Ntadom stresses that stigma, incomplete treatments, and underfunding could add 2 million global deaths by 2035 without urgent domestic action—like fully operationalizing the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund for health.

The good news? TB is preventable and curable—diagnosis and treatment are FREE nationwide. But we’re at a crossroads: Global funding for TB hit just $5.9 billion in 2024 (a quarter of the $22B needed by 2027), and 2025 cuts from donors like the US and Global Fund (down to $89M for Nigeria) threaten to add 2 million extra deaths worldwide by 2035 if we don’t act. Drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is rising too, with detection improving but treatment gaps persisting—only 71% success rate globally.

Nigeria, we can end TB by 2030—but it starts NOW. States must ramp up the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund for health, expand community screening, smash stigma, and innovate financing. Get tested at your nearest PHC or hospital—early detection saves lives!

Sources: WHO Global TB Report 2025, Nigeria NTBLCP, Stop TB Partnership.