Lawyer warns governmentcannot adequately reform the health sector

Amby Uneze in Owerri

Ikenna Ahumibe, a constitutional and human‑rights lawyer, warned that the Federal Government has been unable to implement effective reforms in the health sector for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He emphasized that access to health care is a basic right, not a luxury, and argued that a government that cannot safeguard the health of its citizens has failed in its core responsibilities.

Ahumibe, who also works as a human‑rights advocate, described health care as a fundamental state obligation and an essential element of the right to life. He lamented that the Nigerian government has already fallen short of this duty, noting that the health system remains crippled by neglect, inadequate infrastructure and policy shortcomings.

In a statement released to the press yesterday, titled “Nigeria’s Constitutional Crisis in the Health Sector, a direct call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Comprehensive Health Sector Reforms,” Ahumibe condemned the sector’s decay, pointing out that “only about 4.2 % of the 2026 National Budget is devoted to health care, a level that is manifestly insufficient and far below established international benchmarks.”

He added, “This systemic failure is further underscored by the growing exodus of medical professionals. Nigerian doctors continue to emigrate in significant numbers, driven by poor remuneration, persistent non‑payment of salaries that trigger frequent industrial actions, and the deplorable state of medical infrastructure. Excessive workloads, professional burnout and limited career‑advancement opportunities compound this trend.”

“Insecurity and policy inconsistency have created an unstable environment for medical practice. Recent data show that dozens of Nigerian doctors are kidnapped each year, with incidents on the rise, further highlighting the state’s failure to guarantee the security of health‑care providers.”

“Many Nigerians travel to India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and other countries for treatment because of gaps in local health care—outdated equipment, a shortage of specialists and frequent delays in critical care.”

He noted that facilities such as the National Hospital Abuja often face capacity and infrastructure challenges, especially for complex conditions like cancer or heart disease, while hospitals abroad are equipped with advanced technology, experienced consultants and faster diagnostics, giving patients a higher chance of successful outcomes.

“Nigeria loses about $550 million yearly to medical tourism. Approximately 5,000 Nigerians travel abroad each month for treatment, spending roughly $20,000 – $40,000 per trip. India alone accounts for a large share of this outflow.”

“Nigerians deserve truly world‑class hospitals in all six geopolitical zones. With modern equipment, well‑trained specialists and proper funding, the country could treat complex conditions locally, restore public confidence in its health system and significantly curb the billions lost annually to medical tourism. Strengthening domestic health care is not only necessary—it is urgent for national development and patient survival.”

“The condition of health care in Nigeria today, particularly at the National Hospital Abuja and the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, represents a grave constitutional and moral failure. Facilities that should be centres of healing have become symbols of systematic neglect, marked by outdated equipment, frequent breakdowns and a severe shortage of life‑saving machines.”

“At the National Hospital Abuja, critical assets such as MRI machines, dialysis units and cancer‑treatment equipment are either insufficient or poorly maintained. Cancer patients and those requiring dialysis endure endless waiting periods because of the shortage of machines; some die in queues before receiving care. Others are referred to private hospitals—often linked to the same consultants—where treatment costs are prohibitive, leaving countless patients to die from lack of funds. This is not mere inefficiency; it is a threat to life.”

“In Owerri’s Federal Medical Centre the situation is even more alarming. Patients are admitted in hospital corridors because of space constraints, a condition that violates basic human dignity and contravenes Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the dignity of the human person.”

“While citizens suffer, government priorities remain misplaced—focusing on projects such as coastal roads and rice distribution rather than swift reforms of the health‑care system,” he said.

Ahumibe called on the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, to take decisive action to revamp the nation’s health institutions. He also urged the National Assembly to fulfill its constitutional and fiduciary duties by acting decisively in the public interest, rather than engaging in practices that suggest budget inflation or contract racketeering, both of which erode public trust and the integrity of governance. He stressed that health care is not charity; continued neglect constitutes a dereliction of duty.