Nigeria: Mbah Moves to Tackle Medical Tourism

What the report says

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has presented the Enugu International Hospital as a major part of his administration’s effort to reduce Nigerians’ reliance on overseas treatment, according to Leadership, which was distributed by AllAfrica. During a pre-launch walkthrough of the facility on Rangers Avenue in Independence Layout, Enugu, Mbah said the hospital has been equipped with advanced medical technology and is intended to help position the state as a destination for medical tourism.

The governor said the project aligns with his campaign promise to build a world-class health system and attract skilled professionals, including doctors in the diaspora. He argued that the hospital could help address gaps in advanced care in Nigeria, pointing in particular to imaging, oncology and other specialized services. He also linked the health sector investment to wider economic goals, saying better healthcare and security are part of efforts to make the state more attractive to investors and improve residents’ quality of life.

The hospital’s chief executive, Prof. Sam Agwu, said it will offer services across several specialty areas when commissioned, including cancer care, heart and vascular treatment, neurosciences, renal and transplant services, and mother-and-child care. Former Nigerian Medical Association official Dr. Sunday Nwafor welcomed the development, saying it could support a return of medical expertise to the country.

More broadly, the report reflects a growing interest by Nigerian states in expanding specialist healthcare at home to limit medical travel abroad, though the article does not say when the hospital will officially open.