President Bola Tinubu has formally inaugurated ten newly completed medical infrastructure projects at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, reinforcing his administration’s strategy to improve Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system. Represented by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Tinubu described the initiative as part of a larger push to modernize health institutions across the country.

The event, held on Thursday, showcased the administration’s renewed focus on healthcare system reform, particularly through the upgrading of physical infrastructure, enhanced medical services, expanded health insurance coverage, and stronger primary healthcare delivery.

Broad Nationwide Healthcare Revamp Underway

During his address at the commissioning, Prof. Pate relayed the President’s message that the goal remains the establishment of a robust, affordable, and accessible healthcare system that effectively serves every Nigerian, regardless of status or location. According to him, the upgrades at UATH are just one part of a broader national strategy.

“This is only one example. Across all federal tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, similar projects are ongoing,” he said, noting that every Federal Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, and specialized medical institution is being equipped with upgraded infrastructure, advanced medical technology, and the human capacity to deliver quality services.

Prof. Pate explained that in the past two years, the government has taken deliberate steps to overhaul the health system by focusing on equipping hospitals, attracting and retaining skilled personnel, and building operational systems designed for efficient, affordable service delivery.

“We are still at the beginning of a long but necessary journey,” he said, hinting that the reforms would expand in scale and impact over the coming years under President Tinubu’s leadership.

Expanded Cancer Care Infrastructure and Primary Health Investments

President Tinubu’s message also spotlighted cancer care as a key area of focus in the national health reform agenda. He announced the expansion of six major cancer treatment infrastructure projects, with three scheduled for commissioning in the coming month and the remaining three on track for completion by the third quarter of 2025.

At the same time, the President reaffirmed that his administration would continue prioritizing primary healthcare delivery. He cited key achievements, such as the over 37 million visits recorded at primary health centres under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) during the first quarter of 2025 alone.

He further noted that the government had reimbursed more than 4,000 caesarean sections through public health programmes. Additionally, he highlighted the significant rise in health insurance enrolment, with over 2.4 million new Nigerians brought under coverage through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Commending UATH for Visionary Leadership and Service Delivery

President Tinubu commended Professor Bissallah Ekele, Chief Medical Director of UATH, for his visionary leadership and commitment to improving service delivery at the teaching hospital. According to Tinubu, Ekele’s efforts have set a benchmark for federal tertiary health institutions.

In his own remarks, Prof. Ekele expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the Ministry of Health for their unwavering support over the past two years. He stated that consistent government funding had enabled UATH to undertake crucial upgrades and staff support initiatives.

“The Federal Ministry of Health has been very supportive. Our budgetary appropriations have increased, and the timely release of funds has enabled us to acquire equipment not only for clinical services but also for teaching and staff welfare,” Ekele said.

He explained that UATH performs a wide range of critical functions including the provision of clinical services, training of undergraduate and postgraduate medical professionals, and conducting research. He also highlighted UATH’s unique contribution through its remediation programme for foreign-trained medical graduates. In 2024, 94 candidates took part in the programme and 90 successfully passed the qualifying examination conducted in Ibadan.

Details of the 10 Commissioned Health Projects

Prof. Ekele provided a detailed breakdown of the ten newly commissioned projects, which include:

1. Renovation and furnishing of the male surgical ward

2. Refurbishment of a 34-bed male medical ward

3. Upgrading of the family planning unit

4. Creation of a six-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

5. Construction and equipping of an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) unit

6. Development of a 50-room residential block for medical interns

7. Construction of a 50-room call duty block for on-call staff

8. Installation of a state-of-the-art CT scan machine

9. Construction of a new block of staff quarters

10. Procurement of additional equipment and infrastructure upgrades

Furthermore, Ekele disclosed that the Ministry of Health had recently approved the procurement of an MRI machine and a dedicated building to house it. He expressed optimism that the new facility would significantly enhance diagnostic capacity at UATH.

Calls for Sustainable Energy and Long-Term Improvements

While acknowledging the government’s ongoing support, the UATH Chief Medical Director appealed for the provision of solar energy infrastructure to ensure a more reliable and sustainable power supply to the hospital. He noted that a consistent energy source is critical to the smooth operation of medical equipment and overall patient care.

Dr. Ikechukwu Odikpo, Chairman of the UATH Governing Board, also spoke at the event. He praised the administration’s vision and affirmed that with the ongoing pace of infrastructural development, affordable and accessible healthcare would become a reality for a growing number of Nigerians.

A Healthcare System in Transition

The commissioning at UATH marks a significant milestone in the Tinubu administration’s broader mission to rebuild Nigeria’s healthcare system from the ground up. The reforms represent a comprehensive strategy to address chronic gaps in service delivery, poor infrastructure, and inadequate coverage that have plagued the system for decades.

By investing in federal tertiary institutions, expanding cancer care, strengthening primary healthcare, and extending insurance access to millions, the administration hopes to create a more resilient, inclusive, and efficient national health system.

As these reforms unfold, the healthcare sector remains one of the most closely watched areas of Tinubu’s presidency. Stakeholders across the country will be eager to see how far-reaching the current wave of improvements will go and whether they can lay the groundwork for lasting transformation.