***Pushes for New Hospitals, Medical Centers to Strengthen Healthcare
***As Akpabio Declares Healthcare a National Duty
In a decisive effort to curb the exodus of Nigerian doctors and end the reliance on medical treatment abroad, the Senate has pledged to overhaul the country’s ailing healthcare system.
Speaking at the Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary), Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared, “The time for lamentation is over—bold action is now.”
Represented by Senator Lola Asiru, Akpabio addressed lawmakers, medical professionals, and civil society leaders, painting a grim picture of a nation where preventable diseases claim lives due to inadequate medical facilities and poor infrastructure.
“Every Nigerian life lost due to lack of healthcare is not just a death—it is a shattered dream and a national failure,” he stated, calling for immediate reforms to ensure that no citizen is left behind.
He stressed the need for bold and decisive action to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system, insisting that access to quality medical care must be treated as a fundamental right, not a privilege.
Akpabio underscored the urgent need for legislative intervention to address the nation’s failing healthcare infrastructure. He warned that preventable deaths caused by poor medical services represent not just personal tragedies but a loss of the country’s potential.
“This is an hour of reckoning,” Akpabio declared. “We have watched as our citizens embark on desperate journeys abroad for medical care. We have seen our doctors leave in droves, seeking refuge in foreign lands. This is not the Nigeria we pledged to serve. We must act now to reverse this tide.”
The Senate is currently reviewing several bills aimed at strengthening the healthcare system, including, the establishment of specialized hospitals, Amendments to the Federal Medical Centres Act and the creation of new National Eye Centres in Adamawa and Kogi States
These proposals seek to expand healthcare access, modernize medical institutions, and improve service delivery to retain top medical talent and enhance local research.
Akpabio urged lawmakers to rise above political divisions and prioritize the health of Nigerians.
“Our duty is not just to pass laws, but to ensure those laws breathe life into the hopes of our people. Let us proceed with clarity, vigor, and a resolute will to transform our healthcare system,” he stated.
He assured Nigerians that their right to healthcare will no longer be ignored.
“You shall never be forgotten, and you shall never walk alone,” he pledged.
Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through new medical facilities and policy reforms.
She outlined key legislative proposals to include the establishment of a federal hospital in Ogoku, Osun State, the creation of five additional specialized medical centres across the country and amendments to the Federal Medical Centres Act to enhance healthcare efficiency
“Our population is growing, diseases are evolving, and our healthcare workforce needs urgent support,” Banigo stated. “Through these legislative efforts, we aim to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to quality healthcare.”
She noted that the committee had received memoranda from various stakeholders, including health professionals, civil society organizations, and the general public. Their contributions will be included in the committee’s final report to the Senate, paving the way for necessary legislative reforms.
Banigo expressed gratitude to all participants for their dedication, emphasizing that the Senate remains committed to enacting policies that will transform Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
With Nigeria’s healthcare sector grappling with inadequate infrastructure, medical brain drain, and rising treatment costs, stakeholders are hopeful that the Senate’s commitment to reform will mark a turning point in delivering accessible and high-quality medical care to all citizens.
