HEALTH Diseases

NSIA Healthcare Investments Save Nigeria Over $200 Million

by admin on | 2026-09-02 11:29:37

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 52

---

NSIA Healthcare Investments Save Nigeria Over $200 Million

By Muhammad Bala Imam

Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, says its investments in specialised healthcare have helped prevent more than $200 million in foreign exchange outflows that would have been spent on medical treatment abroad.

The Authority in a statement obtained by Voice of Nigeria said the intervention, implemented through its wholly owned healthcare subsidiary, NSIA Advanced Medical Services Limited, MedServe, is also expanding access to cancer treatment, diagnostics and other specialised medical services within Nigeria.

According to NSIA, the MedServe-LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos has provided more than 25,000 radiotherapy sessions and 10,000 chemotherapy treatments to about 15,000 patients since it was commissioned in May 2019.

The centre, which offers advanced radiotherapy services, played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic when international travel restrictions limited access to overseas medical treatment

“The measure of success ultimately extends beyond the infrastructure delivered,” the Authority said.

“It lies in the capacity created, the patients served, the expertise retained, the investment attracted and the extent to which Nigeria’s healthcare system becomes stronger, more resilient and increasingly capable of meeting the needs of its people at home.”

NSIA said the facility has also recorded cases of reverse medical tourism, with Nigerians abroad referred to the centre because of the quality and comparatively lower cost of treatment available locally.

The Authority added that its diagnostic centres in Kano and Umuahia had provided pathology and radiology services to more than 410,000 patients as of December 2025.

According to the Authority, the figures represent more than service volumes.

“They demonstrate healthcare capacity built locally, specialised skills retained within the country, and tangible value delivered to Nigerians,” NSIA said.

NSIA said the investments were part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic healthcare capacity, retain specialised expertise and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign medical services.

As part of the next phase of expansion, MedServe plans to extend its healthcare footprint across 13 states with the development of 13 additional diagnostic centres, three oncology centres and three cardiac catheterisation laboratories.

The expansion will cover major urban centres, including Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna, as well as states such as Oyo, Sokoto, Delta and Yobe.

NSIA said the expansion is supported by long-term partnerships with global medical equipment manufacturers, Siemens and GE, covering equipment supply, maintenance, training and procurement.

The Authority also secured up to $24.3 million in blended financing from the International Finance Corporation and the International Development Association to support the expansion.

Under the leadership of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, NSIA said its healthcare strategy goes beyond building facilities to developing human capital, strengthening clinical research and establishing partnerships with international medical institutions.

The Authority said new centres under the expansion programme are expected to begin commissioning from mid-2026 as part of efforts to build a more resilient and geographically accessible healthcare system.

NSIA maintained that the long-term objective is to reduce dependence on outbound medical tourism and demonstrate that world-class specialised healthcare can be developed and sustained within Nigeria.