Purpose The realisation of the right to health in Nigeria, aimed at achieving universal health coverage, is increasingly obstructed by various factors, such as considerable financial risks, inadequate healthcare service delivery and disparities in healthcare access. The Nigerian government’s efforts to tackle these issues have led to the implementation of the National Health Act in 2014, aimed at improving access to healthcare services for all citizens and reinforcing protections against financial strain through the Basic Health Care Provision Funds, which serve as the primary healthcare insurance framework. Nonetheless, the execution remains considerably far from achieving the goal of ensuring the right to health. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a scoping review methodology to investigate a broader spectrum of perspectives on the systemic challenges that impede the achievement of the right to health in Nigeria. Findings Insufficient healthcare funding, a lack of political will and commitment and capacity constraints were found to be the primary challenges hindering the advancement of the right to health in Nigeria. Also, cultural and religious nuances were notably identified as contributing factors to unmet health rights in the North, which are absent in the South. Likewise, it has been observed that lived experiences often clash with established rights frameworks, intensifying the challenges related to the right to health within primary health centres. Originality/value This study critically mapped out key issues and gaps in literature that would form the bedrock of future studies as well as serve as a guide to policymaking.
Odinenu et al. (2026) studied this question.