The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria is steadily becoming a hub for quality healthcare, drawing patients not only from West Africa but also from countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this after Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He highlighted key government efforts to strengthen the healthcare system, including the approval of N12 billion for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment across six tertiary health institutions.
“People are now coming from the subregion and even from distant places like the UK and the US to receive quality healthcare in Nigeria,” Pate said. “Despite challenges, significant progress is being made, and the transformation promised by President Tinubu is taking shape.”
The approved contracts include the procurement and installation of MRI machines and CT scanners at:
- University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom
- Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Ogun State
- Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State
- Federal Medical Center, Keffi, Nasarawa State
- Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Adamawa State
- Federal Teaching Hospital, Kebbi, Kebbi State
Pate emphasized that this investment in critical diagnostic infrastructure is part of broader efforts to expand the nation’s healthcare capacity and enable tertiary institutions to offer world-class medical services.
Another key decision from the FEC meeting was Nigeria’s ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, aimed at harmonizing medical regulatory standards across the continent. The treaty, adopted by the African Union in 2019, seeks to improve access to safe, high-quality medical products through a unified regulatory framework.
“So far, 37 African Union member states have signed the treaty, with 26 having ratified it. Today, FEC directed that Nigeria take all necessary steps to fully implement this treaty,” Pate said.
The move is expected to expand Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, allowing locally manufactured medical products to meet continental standards and gain wider recognition.
“What we produce will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria’ but will also be recognized as ‘Made in Africa.’ This is a crucial step towards self-sufficiency in medical products and pharmaceutical industrialization,” the minister added.
Pate credited President Tinubu’s leadership for driving these reforms, stating that while challenges remain, Nigeria’s health sector is on a transformative path.
“We are investing in infrastructure, human resources, and regulatory frameworks to build a healthcare system that Nigerians can rely on and that attracts patients from around the world,” he said.
