The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a package of healthcare projects valued at ₦93.9 billion, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system, improving access to essential medical services, and addressing some of the country’s most pressing public health challenges.
Announcing the approvals after Monday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the investments cover snakebite treatment, blood donation services, tuberculosis control, and reproductive health programmes.
A key component of the approvals is the elevation of the Kaltungo Snakebite Treatment Centre into the National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre. The upgrade is expected to improve specialised treatment, research, training, and the availability of quality antivenom for victims across the country.
Snakebite remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where farmers, herders, hunters, women, and children are among the most vulnerable. With more than 43,000 reported cases every year, many victims suffer permanent disability or lose their lives due to limited access to timely and effective treatment. The new national centre is expected to enhance the country’s response to the challenge.
The council also approved ₦6.9 billion for the deployment of 10 compressed natural gas-powered mobile blood donation clinics. The initiative is intended to improve blood collection nationwide and bridge the significant gap between demand and supply.
Nigeria requires an estimated 1.8 million units of blood annually but currently collects less than one-third of that volume. The mobile clinics are expected to improve access to safe blood for emergency situations, including childbirth complications, road traffic accidents, surgeries, and the treatment of cancer patients.
To strengthen the fight against tuberculosis, FEC approved ₦62 billion for the procurement of tuberculosis commodities. The funding is expected to ensure uninterrupted access to diagnostic tools and medicines while reducing the country’s dependence on international donor support. It will also encourage the local production of tuberculosis medications.
In addition, the council approved ₦25 billion for the procurement of reproductive health and family planning commodities. The supplies will be distributed through primary healthcare centres nationwide to support maternal health services and improve access to voluntary family planning.
“These approvals underscore our commitment to improving healthcare access and strengthening Nigeria’s health system,” Pate said, stressing that the initiatives will touch lives across communities.
The latest approvals reflect the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes by investing in critical services that directly affect millions of Nigerians, particularly those living in underserved communities.
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