President Bola Tinubu says his administration is committed to providing excellent healthcare facilities for all Nigerians and will continue to prioritise domestic and foreign direct investments in the sector.

Tinubu said this at a meeting with the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, accompanied by a delegation from King’s College Hospital, London (KCH), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

The president commended the partnership between Afreximbank and KCH London to establish a first-rate healthcare facility in Abuja, Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), scheduled for completion in 2025.

He said: “Africa is in need, and Nigeria is committed to the needs of its people. Putting people’s welfare first is putting healthcare first. The training and development of our people are our priorities, and we thank KCH, known for its global reputation, for partnering with us.

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“Out of every five black persons, one is a Nigerian. We are racing against time to meet our obligations to our people. This project will further strengthen our long-term vision for the healthcare of our people. We are determined to succeed, and whatever you need in order for us to achieve this project, I want to assure you, we will do it.”

President Tinubu, who was recently appointed the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, emphasised that the continent cannot afford to remain behind in the quality and accessibility of its healthcare system.

Tinubu, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, therefore, urged Afreximbank not to relent in its commitment to investing in projects that will ensure that Africa possesses the expertise and resources to meet its own healthcare needs.

On his part, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the bank and KCH are also collaborating on building a medical and nursing school alongside AMCE, in line with the administration’s commitment to expanding the training of healthcare professionals in the country.

Nigerian-born Oramah pledged the bank’s commitment to developing quality health infrastructure on the continent and contributing substantially to the reduction of medical tourism out of Africa while promoting intra-Africa trade, and creating jobs in the country and continent.

The Star