The Director General of the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), Professor Saleh Yuguda, yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, at his office in the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The visit, according to Professor Yuguda, was primarily to express profound appreciation to the Speaker for his pivotal role in sponsoring the bill that led to the establishment of the National Blood Service Agency — a landmark legislation that has redefined Nigeria’s approach to blood safety and transfusion services.
He commended Speaker Abbas for his visionary leadership and legislative foresight, noting that without his sponsorship and commitment, the agency might not have attained its present legal and institutional status. Professor Yuguda also used the occasion to solicit the Speaker’s continued support in driving the next phase of reforms within the NBSA, including enhanced funding, policy backing, and legislative frameworks that will further strengthen blood services across the country.
In their discussions, both leaders examined the critical importance of building a sustainable blood system that ensures the provision of safe, sufficient, and timely blood for patients in need. The DG highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts to promote voluntary non-remunerated blood donation and to establish state and zonal centres to meet Nigeria’s growing transfusion needs.
Responding, Speaker Abbas expressed delight at the agency’s progress since its establishment and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the NBSA in its mission to save lives. He stressed that access to safe blood remains an essential component of public health and assured that the House would continue to back initiatives that strengthen the nation’s healthcare system.
The meeting ended on a positive note, with both parties pledging closer collaboration between the legislature and the NBSA to promote a culture of voluntary blood donation and ensure that no Nigerian loses their life due to lack of safe blood.