Tinubu Launches $2.2 Billion African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja
By: IDNN Health & Policy Desk
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday officially commissioned the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, describing the $2.2 billion facility as a “landmark moment for healthcare innovation and sovereignty” in Nigeria and across the West African region.
The medical centre, located in the Federal Capital Territory’s Central District, is funded through a strategic partnership with Afreximbank and is designed to offer specialized treatment in cardiology, oncology, and nephrology, while also serving as a centre for advanced medical research and training.
THE PROJECT AT A GLANCE
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Project value: $2.2 billion
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Location: Abuja, Nigeria
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Lead financier: Afreximbank
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Operator: African Export-Import Bank in partnership with Kings College Hospital, London
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Core specialties: Cancer, heart disease, kidney disease
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Capacity: 500 beds (Phase I: 170 beds operational)
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Tinubu hailed the facility as a “national rebirth in medical self-reliance”, and stated that “Nigerians will no longer need to travel abroad to receive the most critical forms of care.”
PAN-AFRICAN MISSION
According to Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, the AMCE is envisioned as the first of a network of world-class tertiary hospitals across Africa.
“We are building not just a hospital, but a model for medical diplomacy in Africa,” Oramah said.
He noted that the centre’s impact would go beyond Nigeria, serving patients from Ghana, Cameroon, Niger, and across ECOWAS.
ENDING MEDICAL TOURISM?
Nigeria currently loses over $1 billion annually to outbound medical tourism, driven by a lack of advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate described the AMCE as “a game-changer,” and said it would help retain both patients and medical talent in-country.
“This is infrastructure backed by purpose — and for the first time, we’re reversing the brain drain,” he said.
ECONOMIC & EMPLOYMENT IMPACT
The centre is projected to create:
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Over 3,000 direct medical and support jobs
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Opportunities for medical internships and research partnerships with Nigerian universities
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Integration into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for low-income patients
President Tinubu stated that future phases would include dedicated children’s and women’s units, and pledged that “this model will be replicated across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.”
CONTHEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE GAP
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 220 million citizens, has less than five functional radiotherapy machines, and under 1,000 nephrologists for its chronic kidney disease burden.
The AMCE project is expected to bridge this gap by delivering:
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State-of-the-art PET and CT scanning suites
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High-capacity intensive care units (ICU)
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Robotic surgical theatres and AI-supported diagnostics
