In many communities across Nigeria, access to safe blood remains a critical gap in emergency care – particularly for women during childbirth and patients facing trauma or medical emergencies. Haemorrhage is still a leading cause of maternal death (NDHS 2023)., Limited infrastructure, low donation rates, and misinformation continue to delay life-saving transfusions.
The Federal Ministry of Health and the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) are leading a coordinated push to strengthen blood services nationwide. On June 17, stakeholders gathered in Abuja for the NBSA 2025 Stakeholder Engagement/ Conference, marking World Blood Donor Day and setting shared priorities for a more resilient and equitable blood system.
The event at the NAF Conference Centre convened leaders and partners across government, civil society, global health, and the private sector. It spotlighted NBSA’s five-year Blood Supply Strategy, which aims to achieve 40% safe blood coverage across all 36 states and the FCT; supporting the broader NSHRII target of reducing maternal mortality.
Driving Sustainable Solutions
SCIDaR Principal Demilade Osoteku led a panel on “Strengthening Blood Systems to Address Maternal Mortality and Critical Health Needs.” The panel identified scalable approaches such as: community mobilisation for voluntary donation, investment in last-mile logistics, and youth-led behaviour change campaigns.
Panelists also called for digital tracking and community education to address cultural barriers.
“One of the biggest gaps in improving blood supply is public awareness; many Nigerians don’t even know that agencies like NBSA exist to support safe blood access,” said Huseina Baba-Inna, a panelist and the CEO of 3AM Foundation.
In the closing plenary, SCIDaR CEO Dr. Uchenna Igbokwe urged stakeholders to pledge their commitments to coordinated delivery and continue to collaborate with the Agency in its efforts to revitalize and expand access to safe and readily available blood across Nigeria.
“This is not just a health system challenge; it’s a human rights issue,” he summed it up.
Shared Priorities and Next Steps
Driven by a shared vision for better outcomes, stakeholders outlined a path forward through five priority actions:
- Building structured, sustainable blood systems beyond emergency fixes
- Mobilising youth and communities as long-term blood donors
- Strengthening digital infrastructure, logistics, and storage
- Enhancing regulation and accountability
- Scaling behaviour change campaigns to shift public perception
These priorities reinforce NBSA’s leadership and invite continued support from partners like SCIDaR.
Immediate next steps include deploying the ₦20bn federal appropriation for the renewed National Blood Programme, rolling out the Blood Supply Strategy across states, launching youth-focused SBCC campaigns, and completing the development of the National Blood Management System for rollout across hospitals and NBSA blood centres.
SCIDaR will continue to support NBSA and the Federal Ministry of Health in turning these commitments into impact; ensuring no Nigerian is left without access to safe blood.
Voices from the Conference
Prof. Saleh Yuguda, Director General, NBSA“At NBSA, we’ve set out on an ambitious journey to reform and reposition blood services in Nigeria… We know we must do more and we must do it together.”
Sen. Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Chair, Senate Committee on Health“Blood donation is not just a technical issue, it’s a matter of life and death.
Prof. Aminu Sirajo Muhammad, Professor of Haematology, ABU Zaria“Blood services must move from emergency fixes to structured systems.
Learn more here: www.nbsc.gov.ng
