President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned health facilities across Nigeria on Friday in what officials say is the country's largest single-day health infrastructure rollout. The virtual ceremony saw projects activated in all six geopolitical zones simultaneously.
According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesman, Tinubu described the investments as the most sweeping healthcare renewal in a generation. He's committed to ensuring ordinary Nigerians get the quality of care previously available only to those who travelled abroad, he added.
"From the rivers of the Delta to the streets of Lagos, from rural Sokoto to tertiary Maiduguri, our emergency response system must work as one," Tinubu said. "Today, we put another major piece of that system in place."
The president acknowledged Mohammed Pate, his Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, for steering the effort. He also credited state governors, the World Bank, the Gates Foundation, and multiple health agencies for delivering results.
Numbers from the Federal Ministry of Health paint an impressive picture. Nearly 3,000 primary health centres have been revitalised under the IMPACT programme in two years.
An additional 27 Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care sites opened across the zones. Over 2,900 Level 1 and Level 2 health facilities were also upgraded during the same period.
Friday's commissioning marks the third anniversary of Tinubu's administration. It's part of a nationwide programme celebrating the milestone.
In Abuja, the newly completed Bola Tinubu Specialist Complex at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, opened its doors. This two-storey facility specialises in integrated specialist and VIP healthcare services.
Eight consulting rooms fill the complex. It also houses twin operating theatres, dedicated Ophthalmology and Ear, Nose and Throat departments, and a fully equipped laboratory.
The facility includes nine VIP wards and four general wards. A private and VIP clinic rounds out the offerings.
At the Federal Ministry of Health headquarters, the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System unveiled its Emergency Response Fleet. It's the largest single-day emergency transport deployment in Nigerian history.
The fleet contains 145 tricycle ambulances and six boat ambulances. Seventy-nine brand-new emergency ambulances were added for federal tertiary hospitals.
Digital coordination tools arrived with the vehicles. Forty-five laptops, 20 printers, and 320 mobile phones support the platform.
These ambulances will operate under the SAVEMAMA programme. The initiative targets emergency obstetric and newborn care in underserved, riverine, and hard-to-reach communities.
In Lagos, Tinubu flagged off Compressed Natural Gas-powered ambulances at a ceremony along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. All 73 federal tertiary health facilities across the country will receive these vehicles.
CNG ambulances significantly cut fuel expenses for federal facilities. They also reduce emissions and strengthen the referral network linking secondary and tertiary hospitals.
