The House of Representatives has advanced a bill seeking to establish a National Children’s Hospital in Ideato, Imo State, in a move aimed at expanding access to specialised paediatric healthcare and reducing preventable deaths among Nigerian children.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, passed second reading at plenary after lawmakers considered its general principles.

Leading the debate, Ugochinyere said the proposed hospital would provide specialised medical services for children, strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and improve access to quality treatment for childhood illnesses.
He argued that establishing a dedicated national institution for paediatric care would help address the challenges facing children who require specialised medical attention, while supporting medical research, professional training and early intervention services.

The lawmaker said the proposal was consistent with the constitutional responsibility of government to protect the welfare of citizens, particularly children, whom he described as among the most vulnerable members of society.
He cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

According to him, the constitutional provision reinforces the need for government to prioritise accessible, affordable and quality healthcare, particularly for children.
Ugochinyere also linked the proposed legislation to the objectives of the National Health Policy and the 10th House of Representatives Legislative Agenda, particularly efforts to improve healthcare delivery and reduce preventable illnesses and deaths.

He expressed concern over Nigeria’s persistent child mortality challenge, noting that preventable conditions such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases and neonatal complications continue to threaten children’s survival and healthy development.
He maintained that a specialised children’s hospital would improve the country’s capacity to diagnose and treat complex childhood illnesses and provide access to advanced medical interventions.

The lawmaker further referenced Section 13 of the Child Rights Act, 2003, which recognises every child’s right to the best attainable state of physical, mental and spiritual health.
He said the proposed legislation would provide an institutional framework for advancing that right through specialised, child-centred medical services.

To underscore the importance of specialised paediatric institutions, Ugochinyere cited the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., United States, and the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
He argued that Nigeria needed to invest more deliberately in facilities capable of delivering comprehensive paediatric services, supporting medical training and research, and improving access to life-saving treatment.

The proposed hospital in Ideato is expected to serve children from Imo State, the South-East and other parts of the country, although its eventual reach would depend on its capacity and service arrangements.
The bill was subsequently passed to the next legislative stage through a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker and referred to the relevant committee for further legislative consideration.