By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Zaria, Kaduna State, has recorded a significant boost to Nigeria’s healthcare system with the formal handover of the upgraded National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) in Saye, Zaria, to the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

The handover ceremony, held on December 16, 2025, attracted stakeholders from government agencies, development partners and the medical laboratory profession, who described the upgrade as a major milestone in strengthening diagnostic quality and patient safety nationwide.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN, Dr. Donald Ibe Ofili, said the upgraded facility goes beyond infrastructure development, describing it as a major step toward improving quality assurance and diagnostic excellence within Nigeria’s medical laboratory system.

Dr. Ofili expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its sustained investment in the health sector, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has provided a clear framework for health system reforms. He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and the Minister of State for Health for translating the administration’s vision into tangible outcomes.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area, Engineer Jamil Ahmed Jaga, said the upgraded laboratory aligns with the Tinubu administration’s policy direction and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure through legislation, appropriation and oversight, noting that the facility would enhance Nigeria’s capacity to address key public health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He also acknowledged the contributions of development partners to improving the country’s diagnostic systems.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, represented by the Acting Director of Finance and Administration, Mallam Mustapha Yau, thanked partners and stakeholders for their support. He said the upgraded NEQAL laboratory meets international standards and would significantly improve the quality of laboratory services in Nigeria.

The completion and handover of the upgraded NEQAL facility marks a new phase in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen diagnostic systems, enhance healthcare delivery and deepen collaboration with national and international partners.