The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria is steadily positioning itself as a hub for quality healthcare, attracting patients from West Africa and even 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, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
As part of efforts to strengthen the healthcare sector, the FEC approved N12 billion for the procurement and installation of advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and CT scan equipment across six tertiary health institutions. The approved facilities include the 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), and Federal Teaching Hospital Kebbi (Kebbi State).
Pate emphasized that this investment will significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals, ensuring access to world-class medical services.
Additionally, the FEC ratified Nigeria’s participation in the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, a move aimed at harmonizing medical regulatory standards across Africa.
The treaty, adopted by the African Union in 2019, seeks to improve access to safe and high-quality medical products while expanding Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market.
“What we produce here will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria,’ but over time, it will be recognized as ‘Made in Africa,’” Pate stated.
He credited President Tinubu’s administration for driving these reforms, noting that despite existing challenges, Nigeria’s healthcare sector is undergoing significant transformation.
