President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially commissioned ten newly completed health infrastructure projects at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, as part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system
Represented by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Tinubu described the development as a crucial component of his administration’s comprehensive strategy to modernize healthcare facilities and ensure universal access to affordable and quality health services across the country.
Nationwide Health Reform in Motion
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Prof. Pate conveyed President Tinubu’s commitment to building a robust and inclusive healthcare system for all Nigerians. He emphasized that the improvements at UATH are part of a broader plan affecting all federal tertiary hospitals, medical centres, and specialized institutions across Nigeria.
“This is only one example. Across all federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, similar projects are ongoing,” Pate said. “These include infrastructure upgrades, advanced medical technology installation, and strengthened human capacity to provide quality healthcare services.”
The Minister further noted that over the past two years, the Federal Government has made significant investments in modernizing hospital equipment, retaining skilled professionals, and developing operational frameworks to ensure efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery.
Focus on Cancer Treatment and Primary Healthcare
According to President Tinubu’s message, cancer care has emerged as a central priority in the government’s health reform agenda. Six major cancer treatment infrastructure projects are currently underway—three are expected to be commissioned next month, and the remaining three are scheduled for completion by Q3 2025.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to improving primary healthcare, citing over 37 million patient visits to primary health centres in the first quarter of 2025, under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF). He noted that more than 4,000 caesarean sections had been reimbursed under public health programmes during the same period.
Additionally, he highlighted an increase in health insurance coverage, with over 2.4 million Nigerians newly enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the first part of the year.
Commendation for UATH Leadership
The President lauded the leadership of Professor Bissallah Ekele, Chief Medical Director of UATH, for his visionary and results-driven management of the institution. He noted that Ekele’s efforts serve as a model for federal tertiary hospitals across Nigeria.
Prof. Ekele, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Health for their continuous support and timely release of funds, which enabled the hospital to acquire essential equipment for both clinical services and training purposes.
“Our functions at UATH go beyond clinical care. We’re involved in undergraduate and postgraduate training, research, and unique programmes such as the remediation of foreign-trained medical graduates,” Ekele said. In 2024 alone, 94 foreign-trained doctors enrolled in UATH’s remediation programme, with 90 passing their qualifying exams in Ibadan.
Details of the 10 Commissioned Projects
The ten newly commissioned medical infrastructure projects at UATH include:
- A state-of-the-art Dialysis Centre
- A newly built Outpatient Department (OPD) complex
- Upgraded Radiology and Imaging Suite
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) expansion
- A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Upgraded Medical Records and Data Centre
- Renovated Accident and Emergency (A&E) block
- A Medical Simulation and Training Laboratory
- A new Public Health and Disease Surveillance Unit
- Upgraded Oxygen Production and Distribution Plant
These projects aim to enhance clinical efficiency, boost patient care quality, and improve training environments for future medical professionals.
With more such initiatives planned across the country, the Tinubu administration is positioning healthcare reform as a central pillar of its “Renewed Hope Agenda,” with the ultimate aim of ensuring every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare, regardless of geography or social status.
