HEALTH OF CITIZENS IN NIGERIA: POLICY IMPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE SOCIOLOGY OF A NEW NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper analyzes the health status of Nigerian citizens from a sociological perspective and explores the policy implications of building a “New Nigeria.” It emphasizes the intersections of health, citizenship, and governance in the country’s socio-political landscape. Drawing from current data from the World Health Organization (WHO, 2024), the World Bank (2023), and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act 2022, the paper argues that the health of citizens is both a mirror and a determinant of Nigeria’s social relations. Through a qualitative analysis of documentary evidence, the study identifies gaps in universal health coverage, health financing equity, institutional legitimacy, and workforce morale. It proposes policy directions including pooled health financing, revitalization of primary health care, targeted malaria control, immunization expansion, and local pharmaceutical development. The paper concludes that an equitable, efficient, and citizen-centered health system will not only enhance health outcomes but will also symbolize the social reformation essential to a New Nigeria.