Tinubu Approves Establishment of 8,800 Health Centers Across Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of over 8,800 new primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the country.

This bold initiative, aimed at enhancing the accessibility and quality of healthcare for millions of Nigerians, will be implemented across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) nationwide.

The go-ahead is part of a comprehensive plan by the Nigerian government to meet the growing healthcare demands of the nation, particularly in rural and underprivileged communities. Construction of these health facilities will be intended to bring healthcare services closer to Nigerians, improve health outcomes, and reduce the workload on existing healthcare facilities.

To ensure that the success of this mega project is guaranteed, the government has implemented the National Health Fellows Programme. The objective of this is to engage young Nigerians as fiduciary agents to supervise the pace and integrity of the construction work. These workers, employed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, will be sent in various regions of the country so that financial resources allocated to the project are utilized in the right way, and the construction process is made transparent and accountable.

The National Health Fellows will be on-ground accountability officers, overseeing the building of new healthcare facilities. They will be tasked with overseeing the construction progress, affirming compliance with quality standards, and reporting any problems that would arise during the setting up of the facilities.

Through direct involvement of young Nigerians in the management and monitoring of these projects, the government is developing a future generation of healthcare leaders.

The fellows will be drawn from a number of fields like health-related professions, information technology, social sciences, and project management, the focus being on individuals within the 25-35 years old age bracket. The scheme aims to provide a chance for the youth to contribute effectively to the nation’s development in terms of healthcare, with the assurance that national service is promoted.

The National Health Fellows hiring process is highly competitive, where the applicants must apply through an official website. The candidates will be required to meet some requirements, which include educational qualifications in health-related studies or related areas. The successful candidates will undergo training to equip them with the necessary skills to manage and direct the construction activities successfully.

In January 2025, the government moved the initiative forward by opening recruitment for the Health Fellows. The deadline for applications was January 27, 2025, so that a quick and efficient process of selection could be initiated to start building the health centers.

The launch of these 8,800 primary healthcare facilities is only part of President Tinubu’s grand plan to overhauling Nigeria’s health system. Primary healthcare has been seen as the pillar of any functioning health system for a long time, and the new facilities will be key in providing preventive, curative, and rehabilitative healthcare services to Nigerians in rural communities.

Through increased access to primary care, the government aims to mitigate common health challenges such as infant and maternal mortality, infectious diseases, and malnourishment. The facilities will also decongest overcrowded urban hospitals that have been overwhelmed, improving the quality of healthcare in the nation.

The clearance of these 8,800 health centers is a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing quest to close healthcare disparities and provide basic health services to all Nigerians. With the injection of infrastructural development and the involvement of young Nigerians through the National Health Fellows Programme, President Tinubu’s administration is not only investing in health but also equipping the next generation of leaders to take charge of the country’s health.

With the new health centers poised to begin construction in the coming future, the project aims to transform Nigeria’s healthcare sector, bringing services to the doorsteps of people and making a healthier, more resilient country.