The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to make basic eye care more accessible across Nigeria, with more than 1,400 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) now reported to be providing or being activated for primary eye care services.

The development was highlighted during activities marking the 2026 World Sight Day on Thursday, October 8, under the global theme “Love Your Eyes.” World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the expansion is aimed at improving access to vision screening, early detection and treatment of common eye conditions, particularly for people living in underserved communities.

According to the ministry, strengthening primary eye care is part of a broader strategy to reduce avoidable vision loss by taking basic screening and treatment closer to where people live.

The government's latest figures show significant expansion of the Effective Spectacle Coverage Initiative Nigeria (JigiBola 2.0). The Federal Ministry of Health said in October that the programme had delivered more than two million free eye screenings and 1.5 million free spectacles, while more than 2,200 primary healthcare workers had been trained and more than 800 PHC centres activated across 16 states.

The July 2026 update from the ministry similarly reported that JigiBola 2.0 had provided more than 1.3 million free reading glasses and trained over 2,220 PHC workers across 16 states, demonstrating the rapid expansion of the programme during the year.

The initiative is designed to help people with common vision problems receive screening and appropriate referrals without having to travel long distances to specialist hospitals.

The government has also linked its eye-health programme to education and economic productivity, noting that untreated vision problems can affect people's ability to learn, work and carry out everyday activities.

Another major component of the government's plan is cataract treatment.

The Federal Ministry of Health has committed to providing 25,000 free cataract surgeries nationwide by the end of 2027 under the Renewed Hope Health Connect initiative. The target was announced by Salako in July and reaffirmed in the ministry's more recent eye-health updates.

Cataracts remain one of the major causes of avoidable blindness, making access to affordable surgery an important part of efforts to reduce preventable vision loss.

The government is also working to strengthen referral systems so that patients identified at PHC level can receive more specialised treatment when necessary.

Beyond government programmes, development and health partners are supporting the expansion of eye services through technology, training and community-based interventions. In November 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health signed an agreement with Peek Vision to use digital tools for eye screening, improve data collection and strengthen referral pathways.

The ministry has said the use of digital screening tools could make it easier for health workers and community-based personnel to identify people with potential vision problems and connect them with appropriate care.

World Sight Day 2026 therefore comes as Nigeria continues to shift its approach from relying heavily on specialist and urban-based services towards integrating eye care into primary healthcare.

The Federal Government's broader objective is to ensure that people in rural communities, urban settlements and other underserved areas can access basic eye services earlier and at lower cost.

With millions of Nigerians still experiencing vision problems, the success of the expansion will depend not only on activating facilities but also on keeping them adequately staffed, equipped and connected to higher levels of care.

The government's 2027 cataract surgery target and the continued expansion of JigiBola 2.0 are expected to remain key components of Nigeria's efforts to reduce avoidable blindness and improve access to affordable eye care.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia