08/10/2026
DIVING INTO PRESIDENT TINUBU’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN HEALTH SECTOR: AN OPINION FROM A HEALTH SPECIALIST
My name is Dr. Usman Muhammad Shanawa, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and a specialist in Gynaecological Oncology with over twenty years of experience in clinical practice and healthcare management. My career has been dedicated to saving lives and improving health systems. This experience equips me to objectively evaluate government health interventions and policy implementations.
As a medical professional, my focus is strictly on health and Medicare. In this article, I outline the remarkable achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the health sector. By examining these interventions through the structural hierarchy of Healthcare i.e, from Primary to Secondary and Tertiary care.
It becomes clear how federal support is reshaping Nigerian health.
The View from Zamfara State: A Local Testimony before analyzing the national framework, it is vital to share my testimony from my home state, Zamfara State. Historically, many state-level healthcare projects stagnated due to financial constraints. However, through robust federal financial support and collaborative policies initiated by the Tinubu administration, 2025 became a turning point for our people. We witnessed firsthand, how democratic dividends can directly translate into affordable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare.
1. Tertiary Care: Advanced Diagnostics at Our Doorsteps tertiary facilities are the pinnacle of medical treatment and research, yet they have long suffered from technological deficits. President Tinubu’s administration has directly addressed this gap by enabling the Governors in equipping state tertiary centers with cutting-edge diagnostic infrastructure,including Computerized Tomography (CT-Scan) machines for rapid, precise internal imaging, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology for advanced soft-tissue and neurological assessment.Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners, which are absolutely critical for my specialty as Gynaecological- oncologist The green signal cited by the Central Bank in 52% drop in medical tourism since 2023 in the true manifestation of President Tinubu intervention at advanced medical health delivery. New Oncology Centers in Katsina, Enugu and Edo states are the reflection of afro mentioned facts. Bringing this level of sophisticated technology to our locality has proven to our citizens that quality, world-class health no longer requires expensive travels
2. Secondary Care: revitalizing General and State Secondary healthcare facilities serve as the vital link between rural communities and specialized centers. The federal interventions have facilitated the complete renovation and equipping of all state hospitals across Nigeria. By upgrading these secondary facilities, the government has sent a powerful message to our rural populations that: their health, safety, and well-being genuinely matter. These upgraded centers now have the infrastructure to handle emergency Obstetrics complications. Here, the benefits of Nigerian Health Information Initiative Exchange Program covering over 200 hospitals on electronic medical records can not be over emphasized. A Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Program launched in 2024, and spearheaded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has provided free of charge emergency obstetric and neonatal care, which consequently dropped the indices of maternal and infant morbidities and mortalities
3. Primary Care: The most fascinating renewed hope in President Tinubu health agenda is change in moving Nigeria's systems from rescue to stability. For the past 30 years, the Nigeria health care was top-heavy patients bypassing weaken Primary health centers while tertiary centers became crwded centers. The riches and affluents flew abroad for mere medical checkups. President Bola Tinubu administration under the Health Sector Renewal Iniatives, change the game by rebuilding the base (PHC) of the pyramid first, while keeping the peak of the pyramid (Tertiary centers) with enhanced performance. As an Obstetrician, the Jinx of Maternal Mortality in our society had overwhelmingly touched the way I perceive being pregnant in Nigeria. The persistent crisis of maternal mortality has been a heavy burden and a complex jinx affecting our women for generations. The Tinubu administration's focus on revitalizing the primary healthcare tier; through National Health Fellow Program deployed across the 774 LGAs, Man-powered by over 60,000 along with Cemog program had drastically addressed the root causes of pregnancy-related complicationand finally building the defense system needed to keep our mothers safe during childbirth. The engime takes Health Insurance Coverage through Basic health and Health Care Provision Funds expanded from 3% to 12% representing Tens of millions of Nigerian women
In conclusion Healthcare infrastructure is the backbone of national development. Through targeted funding, strategic equipment distribution, and a clear understanding of the healthcare hierarchy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's interventions are yielding tangible results.
Dr Usman Muhammad Shanawa is a Zamfara state based Health practioner and manager. A Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, and a Fellow of West Frican College of Surgeons (FWACS) and Fellow of Institute for Health Insurance and Managed Care of Nigeria ( FIHIMCN).
