Be Happy @be_happy1010 - Twitter Profile

Tinubu: health is wealth. By Tahir Ibrahim Tahir Talban Bauchi. I can't help but be super excited by the news coming from FEC, Federal Executive Council, yesterday over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the construction, upgrade as well as equipping of various centres, departments, clinics and offices at the National Hospital Abuja. The NH built during the military era was quite a befitting centre for Nigerians seeking medical attention in the nation's capital back then, but sadly, has not gotten much attention in terms of development, expansion and equipping. It gradually became a shadow of itself. Staff accomodation too has dwindled as provisions are unable to cater for vital and emergency personnel that would be on call 24-7. More than twenty years after, it is getting the much needed financing to reposition it as one of Nigeria's premier health institutions. The FG is investing over half a trillion naira in the NH from its subsidy savings to make tangible the promises of Mr. President's Renewed Hope Health Agenda. This is operationalised through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, NHSRII; led by the ministry of health and social welfare, headed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. A flagship National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment Centre will be developed at a cost of N302.3 billion. This is specific to developing cancer research, treatment, innovation, and capacity building. This will give birth to a national institute christened NICRAT, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment. The design, construction, furnishing, equipping, supervision, and commissioning of the centre have all been approved by FEC, with a completion period of 36 months. A Neuroscience Institute is also to be constructed at the NH, at a cost of N69 billion. Prof. Pate announced that the Institute would provide dedicated infrastructure for neurosurgical, radiological, interventional, and rehabilitative services required by patients suffering from strokes, brain tumors, and other conditions affecting the brain and nervous system. Other developments include the construction of a new administrative and management block in the NH at a cost of N18.74 billion. The NH is also going to get new modular clinics, and theatres for the different medical specialities at a cost of N64.92 billion. Another aspect of the huge developmental projects at the NH is the construction of a high end wing at a cost of N103 billion with a completion period of 24 months, as announced by Prof. Pate. Why am I genuinely excited about this? On the 5th of July, 2026, a little over a month ago, I was in Bauchi to witness the commissioning of a state of the art Radiology Diagnostics and Clinical Trials Centre at the ATBUTH, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital worth billions of naira. This was done alongside the distribution of emergency obstetrics and newborncare equipment, commodities, and delivery kits worth N10 billion by Prof. Pate. At the event, the minister stressed the FG's desire to strengthen clinical research, innovation and evidence based healthcare development in Nigeria. "The centre is important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, inline with the FG's commitment to the efficient delivery of healthcare services across the country. So I can confirm that these developments are not "audio" developments. They are indeed very tangible healthcare assets being built across the country. Prof. Pate has delivered similar world class cancer treatment centres across the country so the National Hospital projects would certainly be delivered promptly. You can be guaranteed a better, repositioned and medically equipped National Hospital within 24 months. Such projects ofcourse are a source of joy for every well meaning Nigerian but it also gives me great pleasure that a son of Bauchi is championing these projects across the country. Thank you Prof for making us proud.