The Federal Government on Monday approved the establishment of a National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State.
It also approved N128.29bn across five health and aviation projects, including the procurement of tuberculosis commodities worth N62bn, reproductive health drugs worth N25bn, ten blood donation vans worth N6.9bn, and the construction of the Gboko airstrip in Benue State at N34.39bn.
The approvals followed Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
It was the first since March 4, 2026, when the President had last convened the council and swore in the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s successor, Tunji Disu.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, said council considered four critical health items, beginning with the upgrade of the existing snakebite treatment facility in Kaltungo into a full research and medical institution with an expanded mandate for clinical services, research and training.
Pate explained, “The Federal Executive Council today considered four important items related to the health of Nigerian people. First was the upgrade of the snakebite treatment centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State into the National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State with an expanded mandate for clinical services, research and training to respond to the need that exists in our country for adequate attention to snake bites and snake envenomation.
“Snakebite remains a significant yet neglected public health challenge, particularly in our rural communities here in Nigeria, in the savannah regions, but also across the sub-region, and is especially hard on vulnerable populations, farmers, herders, hunters, women and children, whose livelihoods and daily activities expose them to encounters with snakes.
“We do have a large burden. Over 43,000 snakebites annually occur, many of which result in death, disfigurement, disability and psychological trauma with severe socioeconomic impact. This new centre will be an important new institution that will address the challenge, particularly in the Northeast, the Northwest and the North Central geopolitical zones of Nigeria, where the issue is most dire.”
He said the new centre would provide comprehensive, specialised care for snakebite and related envenomations, undertake research on snakebite epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and ensure sustainable access and supply of quality anti-snake venom through a full clinical and medical department.