The Federal Government has developed Nigeria’s first National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, in a major step towards strengthening rehabilitation services and improving healthcare access for millions of Nigerians.
The initiative is designed to integrate rehabilitation more effectively into the country’s healthcare system while expanding access to assistive technology for people living with disabilities, individuals recovering from injuries and those affected by chronic health conditions.
The Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria, Professor Rufai Ahmad, disclosed the development on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ three-day Zero Draft Review Meeting on the National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan.
According to the report published on Friday, August 7, 2026, the initiative represents Nigeria’s first coordinated national framework for rehabilitation services and is aligned with the World Health Organisation’s Rehabilitation 2030 Agenda.
Professor Ahmad explained that the strategic plan followed a nationwide assessment of Nigeria’s rehabilitation sector conducted between 2025 and 2026.
The assessment used the WHO Rehabilitation Maturity Model to examine critical areas of the country’s health system, including leadership and governance, healthcare workforce, financing, health information systems, service delivery and assistive technology.
The assessment identified significant gaps in rehabilitation governance, workforce planning, financing and coordination of services.
The proposed five-year strategic plan is expected to provide a structured framework for addressing these challenges and improving rehabilitation services across the country.
One of the key proposals is the establishment of dedicated rehabilitation departments or divisions within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and state ministries of health.
These structures would be responsible for coordinating rehabilitation programmes and ensuring that services are incorporated into broader healthcare planning.
The government has also developed a National Rehabilitation Policy, which is expected to provide long-term direction for the sector, while the strategic plan will guide implementation and periodic evaluation.
Professor Ahmad stressed that rehabilitation should not be viewed simply as the final stage of medical treatment.
Effective rehabilitation can help people who have experienced illness, injury or disability regain independence, return to employment and participate more actively in society.
He noted that when people are unable to return to productive lives following illness or injury, the consequences extend beyond the individual to the wider economy.
Strengthening rehabilitation services could therefore contribute not only to improved quality of life but also to increased productivity and human-capital development.
The initiative also places emphasis on assistive technology, including equipment and products that enable people with disabilities and other health challenges to live more independently.
The Federal Government’s approach is expected to require collaboration among government institutions, healthcare professionals, development partners, private-sector organisations and disability-focused groups.
The stakeholders’ review meeting is intended to allow experts and relevant organisations to examine the draft strategy and provide recommendations before its finalisation.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria continues to pursue universal health coverage and greater inclusion within the healthcare system.
For the strategy to achieve its objectives, stakeholders will need to address financing, workforce shortages, infrastructure, availability of assistive products and access to rehabilitation services at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care.
The Federal Government’s move therefore represents an important policy shift towards making rehabilitation an integral component of healthcare rather than a service available only to a limited number of patients.
If successfully implemented, the strategy could improve access to rehabilitation services, support disability inclusion and help more Nigerians regain independence and return to productive lives.
