- President Bola Tinubu has announced a subsidy for the treatment of kidney dialysis across selected hospitals in Nigeria
- Sunday Dare, a presidential spokesperson, shared the details of the development, including the revised fee, in a social media post
- The presidency explained that the subsidy would make it easier for millions of Nigerians who are fighting kidney-related diseases to access treatment
President Bola Tinubu has approved a subsidy on the cost of kidney dialysis sessions to ease the financial burden on Nigerian patients.
Sunday Dare, the president’s aide, disclosed the development in a tweet on Monday, August 18, 2025.
He explained that the subsidy will initially take effect in 10 public hospitals, with the programme aimed at providing relief to thousands of Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases.
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The high cost of dialysis sessions has remained a major barrier to life-saving treatment in Nigeria. Speaking on this, Dare said that with the subsidy directive, patients in the selected hospitals will now pay N12,000 for a dialysis session instead of the previously required N50,000.
How to get subsidised kidney dialysis treatment
Dare explained that the subsidy is being implemented at federal hospitals across the six geographical zones of the country. He added that patients have received the subsidy, and many of them are happy with the reduction.
Below is the list of the hospital:
| S/N | Names | States |
| 1 | Federal Medical Centre (FMC) | Ebute Meta, Lagos |
| 2 | Federal Medical Centre (FMC) | Jabi, Abuja |
| 3 | University College Hospital (UCH) | Ibadan, Oyo` |
| 4 | Federal Medical Centre (FMC) | Owerri, Imo |
| 5 | University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) | Maiduguri, Borno |
| 6 | Federal Medical Centre (FMC) | Abeokuta, Ogun |
| 7 | Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) | Lagos |
| 8 | Federal Medical Centre (FMC) | Azare |
| 9 | University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) | Benin, Edo |
| 10 | University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) | Calabar, Cross River |
More dialysis centres needed beyond major cities – Expert
The federal government’s introduction of a dialysis subsidy has been described as a major relief for patients battling kidney disease and their families, “who have long struggled with the financial burden of treatment.”
Damilola Osuolale, Founder and Executive Director of Kidney Health Empowerment (KHE), told Legit.ng that the policy marks a positive step but requires complementary measures to be truly effective.
“Firstly, advocacy groups like ours can help by creating awareness at the grassroots level so patients know this subsidy exists and understand how to access it without barriers,” Osuolale explained.
She noted that patients are often uninformed about such policies:
“Many patients are often left in the dark about new health policies, and clear communication will be key.”
On the way forward, the kidney health advocate called for stronger investment in rural access and prevention:
“Beyond the subsidy, additional measures are needed to improve access for underserved communities. For instance, more dialysis centres should be established in rural and semi-urban areas, as most facilities are concentrated in major cities.”
“Equally important is investment in preventive care, tackling hypertension and diabetes, so fewer people progress to needing dialysis,” the kidney health advocate added.
Advocate stresses awareness, honest implementation
Osuolale, however, cautioned that the subsidy must be implemented transparently.
“The dialysis subsidy is a good step, but patients will only benefit if there is awareness and honesty in how it is used,” she said.
At KHE, she explained, the focus is on kidney health education and patient empowerment:
“We focus on educating people about kidney health, so advocacy groups like ours can help spread the word, while doctors ensure the cost is truly reduced.”
She concluded by emphasising the urgency of expanding access and tackling root causes:
“We also need more dialysis centers in smaller towns and stronger prevention of kidney failure by tackling high blood pressure and diabetes early.”
Tinubu promises subsidy for schools, hospitals
The subsidy on the cost of kidney dialysis sessions came a year after the Tinubu-led government said that its administration was ready to provide electricity subsidies for universities and health institutions, even if they are under Band A feeders.
Adebayo Adelabu, the minister of power, announced the plan while appearing on a radio programme in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
This move followed complaints from universities that the removal of the electricity subsidy threatened education in Nigeria. Public hospitals that were under the Band A feeders also complained.
Universities, schools lament electricity bill increase
Several institutions, including the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, have reported significant increases in their electricity bills.
The Federal University of Technology, Akure, and the University of Benin have also seen their bills rise substantially.
The minister acknowledged that universities and hospitals were struggling to pay their bills and described them as “development institutions” and “social institutions”.
