Tinubu: Health Is Wealth

I can’t help but be super excited by the news from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the construction, upgrade, and equipping of various centres, departments, clinics, and offices at the National Hospital, Abuja. The NH built during the military era was quite a befitting centre for Nigerians seeking medical attention in the nation’s capital back then, but sadly, it has not gotten much attention in terms of development, expansion and equipping. It gradually became a shadow of itself. Staff accommodation has also dwindled, as provisions cannot cater for vital and emergency personnel who are on call 24-7. More than twenty years later, it is getting the much-needed financing to reposition itself as one of Nigeria’s premier health institutions. The FG is investing over half a trillion naira in the NH from its subsidy savings to make tangible the promises of Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda. This is operationalised through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, NHSRII, led by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, headed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.

A flagship National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment Centre will be developed at a cost of N302.3 billion. This is specific to developing cancer research, treatment, innovation, and capacity building. This will give rise to a national institute, christened NICRAT (the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment). The design, construction, furnishing, equipping, supervision, and commissioning of the centre have been approved by FEC, with a 36-month completion period.

A Neuroscience Institute is also to be constructed at the NH, at a cost of N69 billion. Prof. Pate announced that the Institute would provide dedicated infrastructure for neurosurgical, radiological, interventional, and rehabilitative services for patients with strokes, brain tumours, and other conditions affecting the brain and nervous system. Other developments include the construction of a new administrative and management block in the NH at a cost of N18.74 billion. The NH is also set to receive new modular clinics and theatres for different medical specialities at a cost of N64.92 billion. Another aspect of the huge developmental projects at the NH is the construction of a high-end wing at a cost of N103 billion with a completion period of 24 months, as announced by Prof. Pate.

Why am I genuinely excited about this? On the 5th of July, 2026, a little over a month ago, I was in Bauchi to witness the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Radiology Diagnostics and Clinical Trials Centre at the ATBUTH, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, worth billions of naira. This was done alongside Prof. Pate’s distribution of emergency obstetrics and newborn care equipment, commodities, and delivery kits worth N10 billion.

At the event, the minister stressed the FG’s desire to strengthen clinical research, innovation and evidence-based healthcare development in Nigeria. “The centre is important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, in line with the FG’s commitment to the efficient delivery of healthcare services across the country. So I can confirm that these developments are not “audio” developments. They are indeed very tangible healthcare assets being built across the country. Prof. Pate has delivered similar world-class cancer treatment centres across the country, so the National Hospital projects would certainly be delivered promptly. You can be assured of a better, repositioned, and medically equipped National Hospital within 24 months.

Just last week, Prof. Pate announced a $500 million in support from the GAVI Alliance, the vaccine group. He made the announcement alongside the group’s CEO, Dr Sania Nishtar. The support is to be utilised to accelerate routine children’s immunisation, maintain polio eradication efforts, expand the HPV vaccine rollout, strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, and provide finance for domestic vaccine production.

This support is for a period of 5 years, during which Nigeria will gradually transition to a nation that can self-finance its vaccination. The package translates into a $100 million in support per year over the 5-year period. It would be a great milestone for our healthcare if Nigeria could finance and produce its own vaccines. On the whole, Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system is witnessing remarkable improvements where policies are being transferred from formulation to implementation. The NH projects, including the financial support for vaccines, are good developments for every well-meaning Nigerian, but it gives me great pleasure that a son of Bauchi is championing these projects across the country. Thank you, Prof, for making us proud.