Nigeria is emerging as a destination for quality healthcare, with patients from the United States, the United Kingdom, and across West Africa seeking medical care in the country, according to Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Speaking on Tuesday after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, Pate highlighted the progress in Nigeria’s healthcare system despite existing challenges.
“Foreign Patients Now Choose Nigeria for Quality Treatment”
“People are now beginning to come from the subregion, and even from faraway places like the UK and the US, to receive quality healthcare in Nigeria,” Pate said.
He attributed this trend to the government’s ongoing investments in medical infrastructure, which are gradually transforming the healthcare landscape.
N12 Billion MRI Investment to Boost Healthcare Services
The federal government has approved contracts for equipping six tertiary health institutions with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines—an advanced diagnostic tool—at a cost of N12 billion.
The beneficiaries include:
- University of Uyo Teaching Hospital
- Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta
- Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Osun State
- Federal Medical Centre, Keffi
- Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Adamawa
- Federal Teaching Hospital, Kebbi
“This investment in critical diagnostic infrastructure is part of a broader effort to expand Nigeria’s health system capacity, ensuring that our tertiary institutions can offer world-class medical services,”
Pate added.
Nigeria Joins African Medicines Agency to Strengthen Pharma Industry
The minister also announced Nigeria’s ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, a pan-African regulatory framework aimed at improving access to safe, high-quality medical products.
“So far, 37 African Union member states have signed the treaty, with 26 having ratified it. Today, the federal executive council directed that Nigeria take all necessary actions to give full effect to this treaty,”
he stated.
By aligning with AMA standards, Nigeria aims to expand its pharmaceutical market beyond its borders, ensuring that locally produced medical products meet continental standards.
“What we produce here will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria’ but over time, it will be recognised as ‘Made in Africa,’”
Pate said.
“A Future of World-Class Healthcare in Nigeria”
With investments in infrastructure, skilled personnel, and regulatory frameworks, the government envisions a healthcare system that not only serves Nigerians but also attracts international patients.
“We are investing in infrastructure, human resources, and regulatory frameworks to create a healthcare system that Nigerians can rely on and that attracts patients from across the globe,”
Pate affirmed.
As Nigeria strengthens its healthcare sector, the country could soon become a leading medical hub in Africa, reversing the long-standing trend of medical tourism abroad.
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