By Tony Tagbo, Abuja 

The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) on Thursday took another giant stride aimed at providing citizens with access to world-class healthcare.

Agreements to that effect were signed with the affected state governments and Tertiary health institutions for the expansion of its Diagnostics and Oncology Expansion Programme in Abuja. 

The Authority through its NSIA Healthcare Development and Investment Company (NHDIC) entered into eight collocation agreements in total.

This will include Lease and Collaboration agreements with three Federal Medical Centres and three State Governments under phase one of the expansion

The state governments are Enugu, Kaduna and Kwara states while the selected, medical centres include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Federal Medical Centre Asaba, Delta, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom and University College Hospital Board of Management, Ibadan, Oyo state.

The event was attended by the Managing Director, NSIA, Uche Orji, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Dr Cecilia Ezeilo, representatives of Governors of Kwara, Kaduna States and Medical Directors of the Teaching Hospitals.

The broader goal of the programme is to establish, in two phases, a portfolio of 23 diagnostic centres, seven catheterization labs and two oncology centres across Nigeria.

Pursuant to these agreements, funds will be deployed to build, equip, maintain, and operate catheterization labs in Kwara, Oyo, Sokoto, Bauchi and Delta states; build, equip, maintain, and operate private modern medical diagnostic centres in Enugu, Kaduna, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Sokoto, Bauchi and Delta states; and build, equip, maintain, and operate an oncology Centre for advanced radiotherapy treatment.

The investments are expected to build new and upgrade these institutions to modern medical centres and significantly enhance Nigeria’s ability to treat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Speaking at the event, the NSIA Boss, Mr Uche Orji said the investments will provide access to advanced healthcare services for the benefit of lower-income families with limited access to care

He said the programme was created having identified critical infrastructure gaps through a comprehensive assessment of the sector and is aligned with the NSIA Healthcare Investment and Development Company’s (NHDIC) strategy to invest in the sector through the establishment of diagnostic centres and tertiary healthcare centres.

According to the him, the enhanced diagnostic capabilities will improve medical intervention in the country and in the respective catchment areas of the partner Federal Teaching Hospitals.

When these centres become operational, he said they will deliver additional development impact for Nigerians through the provision of high-quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare

The proposed projects present a disruptive healthcare strategy, as it will bring about the provision of high quality, affordable and accessible healthcare to the local market, as well as development/training on the required clinical resources in Nigeria and bring quality healthcare to many.