FEC approves N12bn for teaching hospital upgrades in six states

• N242bn for rehabilitation, construction of 14 roads

BY Bonny Amadi with Agency reports

The federal executive council (FEC) has ap- proved N12 billion for the upgrade of critical health infrastructure across teaching hospitals in six states.

The FEC also approved N242.68 billion for the rehabilitation, recouping, and construction of 14 major road projects across the country.

Speaking after the FEC meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, said the upgrades are aimed at expanding healthcare access.

Pate said the fund will be used to procure major diagnostic equipment, including three MRI machines and two CT scanners across key tertiary institutions.

The institutions include the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom; Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state; Federal Medical Center, Keffi, Nasarawa state; Modibbo Adamawa University Teaching Hospital, Yola; and Federal Teaching Hospital, Kebbi.

The minister said the funds would also support broader infrastructure upgrades to enhance both patient care and medical education in these institutions.

He added that the improved facilities have already started attracting patients from foreign countries. “Gradually, piece by piece, we are building our health infrastructure in the front end, but also at the higher level in the teaching hospitals,” he said.

“And we know that important things are happening; people are now beginning to come to Nigeria and receive quality healthcare. This is already happening, including people from faraway places like the United Kingdom and the United States.

“So despite what we may want to believe about Nigeria’s healthcare system, there are good things happening; the transformation that the president promised is beginning to happen.