Edo State,Nigeria – Nigeria’s health sector has undergone a “historic transformation” in the past two years, with the Federal Government executing over 500 health-related projects and establishing three world-class oncology centers in Nigeria. This significant milestone was announced by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, on Thursday during the inauguration of a state-of-the-art Oncology Centre at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City.
Prof. Pate revealed that the UBTH facility marks the third operational world-class oncology center, which includes those at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. He added that three additional centers are currently under advanced construction in Zaria, Jos, and Lagos. He detailed that the Federal Government has so far implemented 501 projects across 61 federal tertiary hospitals and revitalized numerous primary healthcare centers nationwide, including those in Edo State.
“In two years, we have embarked on a landmark transformation of Nigeria’s health sector,” Prof. Pate stated, emphasizing that this “infrastructure revolution” was driven by President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being of ordinary Nigerians. “This President chose the sector that affects the lives of the ordinary citizen and decided to make that impact. We have spent decades without investing in this manner. But this President decided to take the bull by the horn,” he asserted.
The Minister further credited the success to recent economic reforms, which have significantly expanded the fiscal capacity for public investment. “Thanks to the coordinating minister of the economy and his economic management team, the painful reforms have borne fruit. That is how the resources are now available for the Federal Government to invest in health, education, and for states to invest in other ways,” he explained.
Highlighting a key efficiency in project delivery, Prof. Pate disclosed that through the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), world-class medical equipment for the cancer centers was procured at a remarkable 30 percent discount from the original equipment manufacturers, leading to substantial savings for the Nigerian public. “Imagine the savings to the Nigerian public and it was delivered and executed on time,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, affirmed that President Tinubu’s reforms are yielding tangible results, empowering Nigerians to receive comprehensive cancer treatment within the country. “Today, the Nigerian no longer has to look abroad, has to look to a far distance in order to get treatment, to prevent, to treat and to help them survive this dreaded disease called cancer,” Edun remarked. He noted that all six geopolitical zones are benefiting from similar oncology projects, fostering robust partnerships between federal, subnational governments, and the private sector. “Our duty is to sustain this effort. We must look after these facilities and machines and ensure that they deliver what they were built for,” he stressed.
Prof. Darlington Obaseki, Chief Medical Director of UBTH, hailed the newly commissioned oncology center as a testament to “visionary leadership, strategic partnership and deliberate investment.” He believes the center will be a “game-changer” for cancer treatment across southern Nigeria and beyond.
Prof. Obaseki highlighted the critical need for the facility, revealing that over 4,300 cancer patients were seen at UBTH in 2024 alone. “For 10 years, our cobalt radiation machine was down. Today, that challenge has been solved. This centre will serve not just Edo people, but all Nigerians,” he said. He also noted that more than 259 patients have already benefited from the National Cancer Access Programme, with over N430 million spent on treatment and diagnostics in recent years. He commended the Minister of Health and partners like the NSIA, MedServe, and the Federal Government for their dedication to the health sector.
The new UBTH Oncology Centre, equipped with modern radiotherapy and chemotherapy facilities, is poised to become one of Nigeria’s most advanced cancer treatment hubs, marking a significant stride in the nation’s healthcare delivery system.
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