Efficient blood service critical to healthcare system – FG
Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze, Abuja
The Federal Government has stated that an efficient National Blood Service is a crucial and irreplaceable pillar of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system and has called for increased collaboration and private sector investment to reposition blood services for maximum national impact.
During a high-level working visit to the National Blood Service Agency office in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Value Chain, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, highlighted the importance of an efficient, safe, and accessible blood system in achieving the broader goals of the health sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mukhtar said, “There is no functioning health system without a dependable blood service. 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.”
He emphasised the administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment that promotes investment, local innovation, and the expansion of blood service infrastructure. To achieve this, the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) has been assigned the task of developing and submitting financially-focused proposals and scalable interventions designed to attract sustainable funding and provide measurable benefits to Nigeria’s health ecosystem.
“The NBSA is encouraged to bring forward transformative initiatives that are not only financially viable but capable of catalysing long-term impact—especially those that promote efficiency, sustainability, and technology-driven service delivery,” Mukhtar added.
In response, the Director-General of the NBSA, Professor Saleh Yuguda, welcomed the government’s recognition and pledged the agency’s full commitment to transforming the nation’s blood service landscape. He reiterated the agency’s vision of a modernised, self-sustaining system built on innovation, accessibility, and quality assurance.
“Our priorities are clear,” Prof. Yuguda said. “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.”
He further urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to strengthen the NBSA’s regulatory framework through legislative measures that empower the agency to enforce standards and ensure compliance throughout the 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,” he said.
Yuguda also highlighted the agency’s record of humanitarian leadership, noting NBSA’s continued engagement in life-saving crowd-funded interventions and public awareness campaigns that promote voluntary blood donation and health equity.
As the agency prepares to launch new initiatives, stakeholders expressed confidence that with sustained government support, clear legal frameworks, and dynamic leadership, Nigeria’s blood service sector is set for transformation. The call for finance-driven interventions indicates a move towards sustainability and innovation—marking a new era for blood safety and public health in Nigeria.
