Ireti Kingibe, the Senator representing the FCT, urged Nigerian leaders to invest urgently in free emergency C-section programs to prevent maternal deaths. Speaking at a policy dialogue marking International Women’s Day in Abuja, she described free C-sections as a smart economic investment and proposed creating a Maternal Health Trust Fund to sustainably fund maternal health initiatives.
She highlighted that Nigeria accounts for about 28.5% of global maternal deaths, with 576–1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births, often caused by delays in seeking care, reaching hospitals, or receiving treatment due to inability to pay. The cost of emergency C-sections (₦60,000–₦100,000) is unaffordable for many Nigerians living below the poverty line.
Speakers at the event emphasized that making life-saving maternity services free would save lives, reduce poverty, and strengthen Nigeria’s economy. The media was also encouraged to promote awareness of the government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) launched in 2024, which aims to cut maternal deaths by 30% and neonatal deaths by 20% in 172 high-risk local government areas.
