National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
The Nigerian Federal Government has approved N12 billion for the procurement and installation of advanced diagnostic equipment, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners.
This investment is part of a broader effort to position Nigeria as a growing hub for quality healthcare, attracting patients from across the West African subregion, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, “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 emphasized that despite challenges, significant progress is being made, and the transformation promised by President Tinubu is already taking shape.
The approved contracts will see the installation of three MRI machines and two CT scanners across six tertiary health institutions, including the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital.
Pate noted that “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.”
Additionally, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ratified the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty, aiming to harmonize medical regulatory standards across the continent.
This move is expected to expand Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market beyond national borders, allowing locally manufactured medical products to meet continental standards.
As Pate stated, “What we produce here will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria,’ but over time, it will be recognized as ‘Made in Africa.’”
