FEC approves N540bn to upgrade National Hospital, build cancer centre

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved projects worth about N540 billion to upgrade the National Hospital, Abuja, to a quaternary healthcare institution and to build a new cancer treatment centre.

Quaternary healthcare refers to highly specialised medical care involving advanced treatment, research and management of complex conditions.

The approvals were disclosed by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, after the weekly FEC meeting on Wednesday.

The Personal Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, Kamorudeen Yusuf, shared details of the approvals in a post on X.

The approved projects include the construction of new facilities at the National Hospital, Abuja, a Neuroscience Institute and a new National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) facility.

National Hospital upgrade

According to Yusuf, the council approved N18.74 million for the refitting of the hospital’s administrative block, with Visible Construction Limited awarded the contract.

It also approved N64.92 billion for modular clinics and a theatre complex, to be constructed by Strabbing Construction Limited.

Another N103 billion was approved for a new hospital wing, with CBC Global Civil Construction Limited awarded the contract.

The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.

The council further approved N69 billion for a Neuroscience Institute covering neurosurgery, radiology and rehabilitation. CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Limited was awarded the contract.

The approvals are part of plans to transform the National Hospital, which Pate said had lagged behind its “original vision” due to years of underinvestment since its establishment about 25 years ago.

Cancer centre

The largest of the approved projects is the N302.3 billion facility for the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.

Yusuf said the project, awarded to CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nigeria Limited, has a 36-month completion period.

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The facility is expected to strengthen cancer research and treatment capacity in the country.

“The projects follow President Tinubu’s directive to strengthen healthcare infrastructure nationwide, and that funding comes through National Assembly appropriations already reflected in the 2025 and 2026 budgets rather than direct ministry allocation,” Pate was quoted to have said.