Musings From Abroad

In 6 months, Nigerians spent over $2.38 million on medical tourism

Published

1 month ago

October 21, 2024

According to a recent report, Nigerians spent over $2.38 million on international healthcare services between January and June 2024.

The amount spent on social and health-related services under the sectoral use of foreign money supports this, according to a study released by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The report’s breakdown shows that $2.3 million was spent in January, $0.00 million in February, $0.01 million in March, $0.00 million in April, $0.05 million in May, and $0.02 million in June.

According to our reporter, the first half of 2023 saw higher spending on overseas healthcare-related services than the second half, which ran from July to December and totalled $0.69 million.

The amount spent from January to June of this year increased by $1.69 million, according to the development. However, there was a $0.75 million decrease from the $3.13 million number for the first half of 2023.

President Bola Tinubu claimed that the outbound medical tourism tendency would be reversed when he launched the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, a healthcare expansion program that would retrain 120,000 frontline healthcare personnel.

According to Tanimola Akande, a former National Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria and a professor of public health at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, the CBN’s reported rise in medical tourism costs is a sign that a significant amount of hard currency is still being spent on medical care abroad.

Over hundred thousand frontline healthcare workers would receive retraining as President Bola Tinubu launched the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, a healthcare growth program.

Akande emphasised that “elites frequently promote medical tourism.” This suggests that the cost of medical tourism in Nigeria has not significantly decreased despite recent investments in first-rate private healthcare facilities.

“The money spent on medical tourism, if channelled to improving local health facilities, will go a long way to reduce medical tourism in Nigeria.

“The government should continue to promote investment in quality healthcare services in Nigeria. The government also needs to do a lot more to reduce the brain drain challenge and provide an enabling environment for high-class quality health care to flourish in Nigeria.”

Related Topics:Featured Medical tourism Nigeria

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Musings From Abroad

France, Nigeria sign agriculture, infrastructure deals

Published

3 days ago

November 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Two agreements to improve food security and infrastructure development have been struck between France and Nigeria, while Nigerian lenders, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Zenith Bank, have expanded their operations into France.

The agreements were signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris, according to Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who said on Friday that the agreements included a 300 million euro investment plan to support the development of human capital, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure throughout Nigeria.

A letter of intent was signed by French Economy Minister Antoine Armand and Nigerian Finance Minister Wale Edun to enable the investments. Onanuga added in a statement that both countries have promised to simplify trade and investment procedures.

“The two countries committed to forge a strategic relationship in project implementation and enhance mutual trade and cross border services by removing fiscal barriers while protecting labour rights,” a joint statement said.

Zenith Bank opened its doors in Paris in addition to the government-level accords, and UBA is expected to follow after reaching an agreement with French authorities to start business in Paris, according to Onanuga.

Nigeria is the fourth-largest trading partner of France in Africa, behind Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and the top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria Exports to France was US$4.26 Billion during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

Musings From Abroad

Chad terminates defence cooperation with France

Published

3 days ago

November 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

France’s influence in Sub-Saharan Africa has suffered a fresh setback as the government of Chad says that it has terminated its defence cooperation agreement with France, potentially leading to the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African nation.

After more than 60 years of independence, Chad, a crucial Western partner in the war against Islamic terrorists in the area, said in a statement that it wants to completely establish its sovereignty.

It stated that it would be allowed to reinterpret its strategic alliances as a result of the 2019 revision to the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

Although Chad has always worked closely with the military forces of Western countries, in recent years it has become more close to Russia.

After being forced to withdraw its soldiers from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso due to military coups, the decision represents yet another blow to France’s colonial and historic position in West and Central Africa.

Since then, the military juntas have looked to Russia, which has been developing stronger connections with Chad’s president Mahamat Deby and has mercenaries stationed throughout the Sahel area, a group of nations that stretches from the northwest to the northeast shores of Africa.

“Under the terms of the accord, Chad will respect the modalities of the termination including the necessary deadlines, and will collaborate with French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition,” the statement said.

The French foreign ministry is yet to officially comment on the development.

Although a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron this week submitted a report with recommendations on how France could scale back its military presence in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast, where it has stationed thousands of troops for decades, there were no signs that Paris had been informed in advance of the decision.

Approximately 1,000 French soldiers and combat aircraft are presently stationed in Chad.

In a further setback for France, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated Thursday in an interview with French state television that French troops should not be stationed in his nation.

He stated that Paris would be the first to know, but he did not specify whether or when French forces would be ordered to depart. There are about 350 French soldiers stationed in Senegal.

The decision to terminate the country’s defence relationship with France should not in any way jeopardise the two nations’ cordial ties, according to a statement from Chad’s foreign ministry.