The Federal Government has welcomed plans by China to provide medical services to Nigerians through its naval hospital ship, Ark of Peace, scheduled to visit Lagos from November 10 to 17, 2026.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the initiative as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral health cooperation, improve access to medical services and promote professional exchanges between Nigerian and Chinese healthcare practitioners.
In a statement signed by Ado Bako, Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, on October 20, 2026, Pate expressed appreciation to the Chinese government, its ambassador to Nigeria and other stakeholders for facilitating the visit, noting that the initiative would deepen diplomatic relations while supporting healthcare delivery in the country.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of Nigerians through improved services across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, as well as stronger public health interventions.
The minister said he would brief President Bola Tinubu on the development, adding that international partnerships could promote knowledge sharing and help build more responsive healthcare systems.
Pate also emphasised the need for sustained engagement among government institutions and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and maximise the benefits of the humanitarian mission.
He wished the visiting vessel and its medical team a successful mission, expressing hope that the initiative would strengthen longstanding relations between Nigeria and China and create opportunities for further cooperation in the health sector.
Presenting details of the proposed outreach at a coordination meeting, the representative of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Senior Colonel Ouyang Haisheng, said the mission would provide medical services to Nigerians while strengthening collaboration between healthcare professionals from both countries.
According to Haisheng, the Ark of Peace, also referred to as the Auspicious Ark in the statement, is a fully equipped floating hospital with a displacement of approximately 16,000 tonnes, eight operating theatres and more than 100 doctors and other medical personnel.
He said the vessel was expected to serve as the principal medical platform during the exercise, with the capacity to attend to about 600 or more patients daily during the main service period, subject to operational arrangements.
The proposed services include medical consultations, physical examinations, laboratory investigations, diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures and cataract treatment under the Brightness Initiative.
The medical team is also expected to demonstrate traditional Chinese medicine techniques, including acupuncture, moxibustion and scraping therapy, while exploring opportunities for joint clinical activities with Nigerian medical professionals.
Beyond services provided aboard the ship, the mission plans to deploy mobile medical teams to communities and selected institutions, including schools, orphanages, homes for older persons and disability centres.
Temporary medical facilities may also be established at accessible locations, such as stadiums, churches and schools, to extend services to local populations.
The programme will further include professional exchanges with Nigerian hospitals and universities, alongside health education and cultural activities.
Haisheng said China’s overseas medical missions began in 2010 and had provided healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients in different countries.
He expressed optimism that the proposed visit would improve access to medical care, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen professional collaboration between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, described the initiative as a priority for the state, saying it represented another significant step in the growing healthcare partnership between Nigeria, Lagos State and China.
Abayomi, who participated virtually in the coordination meeting from London while on official assignment, disclosed that the state had established a multidisciplinary committee comprising health strategists and specialists from major general hospitals to coordinate the exercise.
He said the state was working with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, security agencies and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, to ensure proper coordination, regulatory compliance and operational readiness.
The commissioner explained that the seven-day outreach would combine onshore medical services at selected general hospitals along the Lagos Marina axis with referrals of patients requiring advanced specialist attention to the hospital ship.
He said the arrangement would facilitate patient triage, ease logistical challenges and maximise the use of available medical expertise.
Abayomi also proposed extending the outreach to hard-to-reach riverine communities across Lagos State, using the vessel’s waterborne capabilities and available boats to reach underserved populations.
He highlighted opportunities for academic and professional exchanges between Nigerian health officials and Chinese medical specialists, particularly in clinical practices, specialised services and healthcare delivery models.
The commissioner assured the coordinating minister of the state’s readiness to work with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant authorities to host the humanitarian and diplomatic mission.
He added that plans were being considered for a courtesy visit by the Chinese diplomatic delegation to the Lagos State Governor, alongside other senior government officials, to formally welcome the team.
Abayomi expressed optimism that the exercise would deliver mutual benefits, strengthen bilateral relations and create opportunities for sustained healthcare cooperation. He also pledged to brief the governor on the proposed activities and provide the necessary state-level support.
Providing an update on the registration of the visiting medical personnel, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Fatima Kyari, said the council had verified the professional status of the participating doctors and completed their licensing.
Kyari said the regulatory measures were designed to protect patients and ensure Nigerians received appropriate specialist care during the humanitarian exercise.
She added that temporary registrations had been issued, with restrictions limiting the doctors to specified locations of service and the approved duration of the mission.
Also speaking, the representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Surgeon Commodore Momoh Jimoh Salihu, assured stakeholders that adequate security arrangements would be provided throughout the exercise.
He described the medical outreach as a welcome development.
