The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a sweeping upgrade of the National Hospital, Abuja, and a separate, high-cost national cancer centre in a move to drive health infrastructure as the cardinal objective of his administration’s development agenda.
Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister of Welfare Professor Ali Pate disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of Wednesday’s council meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said four major projects at the National Hospital, plus a standalone National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment are included in the presidential decision.
Professor Pate, said the hospital works total roughly N255 billion; the cancer institute carries an additional price tag of about N302.3 billion.
The Health Minister explained that a new administrative and management building is budgeted at about N18.74 billion while modular clinics and operating theatres for multiple specialties is estimated at about N64.92 billion.
Other aspects of the approvals include a premium wing intended to elevate clinical capacity, estimated at N103 billion with a 24-month completion target and a dedicated neuroscience facility at an estimated N69 billion.
Minister Pate said the proposed Neuroscience Institute would house specialised neurosurgical, radiological, interventional and rehabilitative services for patients with strokes, brain tumours and other conditions of the brain and nervous system.
The Minister described the institute as a device for concentrating expertise and technology that is currently dispersed across public facilities.
Also approved is the design, construction, furnishing, equipping, supervision and commissioning of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).
The project is budgeted at roughly N302.3 billion and is scheduled for completion in 36 months, Pate said.
The Minister also described the centre as a flagship institution intended to expand cancer research, treatment, innovation and capacity building nationwide.
The approvals mark one of the largest single drives into tertiary health infrastructure by the federal government since President Tinubu took office.
