FG Pledges Stronger Support for Blood Services, Seeks Scalable Interventions from NBSA
The Federal Government has declared the National Blood Service a crucial and indispensable component of Nigeria’s healthcare system, signaling a renewed commitment to strengthening the sector. This declaration comes with a call for enhanced collaboration, private sector investment, and financially sound proposals to boost blood services nationwide.
During a recent visit to the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) office in Abuja, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Value Chain, emphasized the vital role of an efficient, safe, and accessible blood system in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for healthcare.
“There is no functioning health system without a dependable blood service,” Dr. Mukhtar stated. “From maternal care to surgery, oncology to emergency response, the availability and quality of blood products play a life-saving role. The Federal Government is committed to strengthening this vital sector through policy support and public-private collaboration.”
Dr. Mukhtar underscored the administration’s resolve to foster an environment conducive to investment, local innovation, and expansion of blood service infrastructure. He tasked the NBSA with developing and submitting finance-driven proposals and scalable interventions capable of attracting sustainable funding and delivering measurable value to Nigeria’s health ecosystem.
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“The NBSA is encouraged to bring forward transformative initiatives that are not only financially viable but capable of catalyzing long-term impact—especially those that promote efficiency, sustainability, and technology-driven service delivery,” he added.
NBSA Pledges Overhaul, Seeks Regulatory Backing
In response, Professor Saleh Yuguda, Director-General of the NBSA, welcomed the government’s recognition and pledged the agency’s full commitment to overhauling the nation’s blood service landscape. He reiterated the NBSA’s vision for a modernized, self-sustaining system built on innovation, accessibility, and quality assurance.
“Our priorities are clear,” Prof. Yuguda affirmed. “We are working to expand plasma production capabilities, improve nationwide access to safe blood, and deepen public-private partnerships that will enable local production of vital consumables—moving Nigeria away from costly import dependency.”
Prof. Yuguda also appealed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly for stronger legislative backing to empower the NBSA’s regulatory framework. He stressed the importance of legal authority to enforce standards and ensure compliance across the entire blood value chain. “We cannot achieve national blood safety and efficiency without the full force of legal authority. Strengthening our regulatory mandate is essential for oversight, quality control, and the ethical administration of blood services nationwide.”
Highlighting the agency’s humanitarian efforts, Prof. Yuguda noted NBSA’s ongoing involvement in crowd-funded interventions and public awareness campaigns promoting voluntary blood donation and health equity.
As the NBSA prepares to launch new initiatives, stakeholders express optimism that sustained government support, clear legal frameworks, and dynamic leadership will usher in a new era for blood safety and public health in Nigeria, driven by a shift towards sustainability and innovation.
By PRNigeria
