FG COMMISSIONS WORLD-CLASS CANCER CENTRE IN ENUGU, AIMS TO END MEDICAL TOURISM

In a bold effort to reverse decades of medical tourism, the Federal Government has inaugurated a cutting-edge cancer treatment facility at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. The centre features a state-of-the-art linear accelerator and enhanced oncology infrastructure—equipped with the best diagnostic and radiotherapy tools available globally.
Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, alongside Finance Minister Wale Edun and Information Minister Mohammed Idris, led the commissioning ceremony. Highlighting the government’s investments, Pate noted that the health budget has increased from ₦1.7 billion to ₦2.3 billion year-on-year, reflecting a renewed commitment to accessible and quality healthcare.
Information Minister Idris underscored the facility’s global standards, stating:
“This machine is one of the best you can find anywhere in the world… Anyone seeking cancer treatment abroad now does so by choice, not necessity.”
This facility is one of three newly launched oncology centres—as also commissioned in Benin and Katsina—as part of a six-zonal rollout funded by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Once fully operational, these hubs are expected to significantly improve cancer care accessibility nationwide.