President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for the immediate enhancement of 16 healthcare facilities spread across the nation’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Punch, this directive mandates the swift upgrade of both infrastructure and equipment in these institutions. Among the establishments slated for improvement are the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Surulere.
The specified six teaching hospitals are earmarked for the establishment of oncology and nuclear medicine centers within each facility. The ambitious goal is to complete these upgrades within a timeframe of 12 to 18 months.
The decision to modernize aligns with President Tinubu’s overarching vision of revitalizing the health and social welfare sector, ensuring that top-tier cancer diagnosis and care become accessible to all Nigerians.
In a statement titled “President Tinubu approves immediate upgrade of key health infrastructure across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones,” the Presidency, as conveyed by Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, emphasized the commitment to this extensive health sector overhaul.
Beyond LUTH and ABUTH, four other teaching hospitals—the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, the University of Nigeria (Nsukka) Teaching Hospital in Enugu State, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State, and the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina—are included in the approved upgrades.
Additionally, Tinubu sanctioned critical healthcare service expansion initiatives in medical and radiation oncology, clinical pathology, radiology, and cardiac catheterization across ten hospitals spanning all geopolitical zones.
These institutions include the Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex in Enugu (South-East), Reference Hospital in Kaduna (North-West), Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto (North-West), University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in the South-South, and University College Hospital in Ibadan (South-West).
Further projects encompass the Federal Medical Centre in Nguru (North-East), the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba (South-South), the Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex in Ilorin (North-Central), the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi (North-East), and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (North-Central).
Ngelale outlined that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, will lead the comprehensive upgrade of cancer treatment infrastructure and other crucial developments.
This initiative extends to the full renovation and expansion of prior investments, aiming to enhance widespread access to high-quality healthcare nationwide.
Anticipated to be delivered within 12–18 months, these pivotal projects aim to advance screening and diagnostics for both communicable and non-communicable diseases, ultimately reducing mortality rates and improving outcomes for non-communicable diseases.
Concurrently, they are expected to generate substantial employment opportunities and enhance the capacity of clinical personnel across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, aligning with the administration’s prioritized focus areas.