FG Declares Healthcare Critical Economic Infrastructure As NSIA Commissions Diagnostic Centres In Bauchi, Ibadan
The Federal Government has described healthcare as critical economic infrastructure, saying investment in the health of Nigerians is essential to strengthening human capital, productivity and long-term economic growth.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this on Monday during the commissioning of NSIA MedServe Diagnostic Centres in Bauchi and Ibadan under the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority’s (NSIA) Healthcare Expansion Programme.
Oyedele said the significance of the projects extends beyond the facilities themselves, stressing that a healthy population is better positioned to work, learn and contribute productively to the economy.
He noted that illness, on the other hand, places significant financial pressure on households through medical expenses, loss of income and depletion of savings.
According to the Minister, the projects also demonstrate how public capital can be deployed to attract private and development financing for critical infrastructure.
“Government budgets alone cannot meet Nigeria’s development needs. The question cannot only be how much government spends. It must also be how much private and development capital government can mobilise,” he said.
Oyedele commended the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank Group for supporting the programme, particularly through long-term local currency financing, which he said was appropriate for long-term assets whose revenues are generated in naira.
He said the financing model could be replicated across other priority sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, energy and housing.
The Minister noted that previous NSIA investments in healthcare had demonstrated the significant demand for specialised medical services in the country.
He disclosed that the MedServe LUTH Cancer Centre had treated more than 16,700 patients, delivered over 30,000 radiotherapy sessions and provided 25,000 chemotherapy treatments.
He added that diagnostic centres in Kano and Umuahia had served more than 410,000 patients as of December 2025.
Oyedele said MedServe was currently developing 23 new diagnostic centres across the country in two phases, including three centres with oncology units and three equipped with cardiac catheterisation laboratories.
He said the expansion would bring specialised diagnostic and treatment services closer to Nigerians, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for healthcare or seek treatment abroad.
The Minister linked the investment to the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce medical tourism and retain more economic value within Nigeria.
“Every procedure performed at home keeps value, jobs and expertise in our economy and eases pressure on foreign exchange,” Oyedele said.
He, however, stressed that Nigeria’s ambition should go beyond reducing outbound medical tourism to developing a competitive healthcare economy capable of serving Nigerians and attracting patients from other African countries.
Oyedele said achieving this would require sustained investment not only in healthcare facilities and medical equipment but also in the personnel and systems required to operate them effectively.
He emphasised the need to retain and continuously develop doctors, nurses, radiographers, laboratory scientists, technicians and other specialised healthcare professionals.
The Minister also called for stronger domestic capacity in medical technology, equipment maintenance and pharmaceutical production.
He said the success of the healthcare investments should ultimately be measured by the outcomes they deliver rather than the number of facilities commissioned.
“The real test is whether the equipment still works in ten years, whether we retain qualified staff, and whether patients are treated with dignity, diagnosed earlier and able to afford the care they receive,” he said.
Oyedele said the investments align with the Federal Government’s broader economic reform agenda, which seeks to translate macroeconomic stability into productive investment, improved public services and better living standards.
“Macroeconomic stability is not the destination. It is the foundation. We are converting stability into investment, investment into services, and growth into better lives,” he stated.
The Minister congratulated the NSIA and MedServe teams, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Bauchi and Oyo State Governments, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, relevant healthcare institutions in Ibadan, the IFC and other partners for the successful delivery of the projects.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnerships that mobilise capital, strengthen critical infrastructure and translate economic reforms into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
