Former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe, says Nigeria cannot boast of a hospital that makes it irrelevant for citizens to go abroad for treatment.
Mr Okupe spoke on Monday during his appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.
He urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to correct the mistakes made by previous governments in the nation’s health sector.
“The mistakes of the past are daunting, they are perplexing, they are embarrassing that since 1960 to date, we cannot boast of one major centre in the whole country that makes it irrelevant for you to go abroad,” he said.
Okupe, who was recently treated of coronavirus in Ogun State alongside his wife, said the country has intellects to improve her health sector, making reference to the recent appointment of a Nigerian as head of the COVID-19 team in Sierra Leone.
“As a doctor, I can tell you for free that we have the expertise – both at home and away,” he added.
“There are thousands and thousands of very very highly qualified, competent professionals who are abroad in the US and everywhere, including Nigeria.”
Okupe said building a standard hospital in the country would cost less than $150 million.
“That is just it – $150 million; if you multiply that by six, you are not even talking about $1 billion and we have been given $3.5 billion,” he said.
“If we just take one out of that and spend it to establish these things, then we would have learned a great lesson, and I believe that this government will do so.”
