Nigeria Emerging as Medical Tourism Hub, Says Health Minister

Nigeria is gaining recognition as a destination for high-quality medical care, attracting patients from the United Kingdom, the United States, and the West African subregion, according to Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

Speaking on Tuesday after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, Pate highlighted the country’s progress in healthcare development despite existing challenges.

“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 announced, emphasizing the strides made in the sector under the current administration.

As part of ongoing efforts to bolster the country’s healthcare system, the federal government has approved significant investments in tertiary health institutions. Notably, N12 billion has been allocated for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines—an advanced diagnostic tool—across six tertiary hospitals.

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 stated.

To enhance Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, the federal government has ratified the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty. Adopted by the African Union in 2019, the treaty aims to harmonize medical regulatory standards across the continent, ensuring access to safe, high-quality, and effective medical products.

With 37 African Union member states signing the treaty and 26 ratifying it, Nigeria is now taking definitive steps to implement it.

“The federal executive council has directed that Nigeria take all necessary actions to give full effect to this treaty,” Pate said, noting that the initiative would expand Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market beyond national borders.

Pate expressed confidence that the country’s growing pharmaceutical sector would meet local demands and gain continental recognition.

“What we produce here will not just be ‘Made in Nigeria’, but over time, it will be recognized as ‘Made in Africa’,” he said. “This is a significant step towards self-sufficiency in medical products and pharmaceutical industrialization.”