The COVID-19 pandemic, originating in Wuhan, China, rapidly impacted healthcare systems worldwide, including FCT Abuja, Nigeria. This research investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FCT Abuja's health system, identifying weaknesses and resilience, and proposing strategies to improve preparedness for future pandemics. A mixed-method approach was used, combining quantitative data analysis and qualitative surveys. This study's results found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted FCT Abuja's health system, causing shortages of medical supplies, PPE, and critical medications. Healthcare workers faced increased workloads, stress, and disruptions in non-COVID services. Disparities in healthcare access are exposed, with vulnerable populations facing challenges in receiving adequate care. Furthermore, findings from this research reveal significant strains in the health systems of the FCT including, hospital caseloads, shortages of medical supplies, and delays in treatments. More so, vulnerable populations faced greater challenges in accessing healthcare, and limited testing and contact tracing capabilities hindered disease containment. This research also highlighted the challenges and improvement opportunities that the pandemic brought, alongside helping the health systems to elucidate strategies to help prepare for future pandemics. Some of the strategies to enhance preparedness for future pandemics include (i) strengthening healthcare infrastructure by investing in modern equipment, training, and establishing temporary treatment centres (ii) prioritizing training and recruitment to address workforce shortages (iii) stockpiling essential supplies, (iv) diversifying resource allocation, (v) improving testing and contact tracing, (vi) promoting public health education, and (vii) establishing robust communication channels for effective dissemination of critical information during crises amongst others. To improve preparedness, this research suggests strengthening healthcare infrastructure, augmenting the medical workforce, establishing strategic stockpiles, improving testing and contact tracing capabilities, enhancing public health education, effective resource management, and fostering collaboration between healthcare authorities and the public, to mitigate future pandemic effects and safeguard public health.