The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to stamping out quackery and malpractice in Nigeria’s health sector as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziak Adekunle Salako, commissioned the South East Zonal Office of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria in Enugu State.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, Salako said the new office represents a critical step in ensuring that radiography practice in Nigeria meets the highest ethical and professional standards, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I commission this South East Zonal Office as a landmark addition to our shared commitment to elevate the standard of radiography practice and patient care across Nigeria.”
Salako commended the leadership of the board, led by Registrar Prof. Mark Chukwudi Okeji, for delivering the project. He also announced that finishing touches and furnishing of the complex have been included in the 2026 federal budget proposal.
Salako stressed that a key pillar of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative is to strengthen regulatory bodies to enforce professional standards and protect patients.
“Without proper regulation and monitoring, quackery thrives, standards are compromised, and patients suffer.
“The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to accord priority attention to our regulatory bodies, including the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria,” he said.
The minister recalled that when the current administration assumed office in May 2023, professional regulatory bodies, including those in the health sector, were no longer enjoying government budgetary allocations.
“The President swiftly reversed this decision in recognition of the critical roles being played by health regulatory bodies. Today, these bodies enjoy government budgetary funding unlike their peers in other sectors,” he noted.
Salako highlighted his visits to nearly all health sector regulatory bodies since assuming office as Minister of State in October 2024, stressing that the government expects reciprocity in dedication to duty and strict adherence to professional ethics.
“Quackery, malpractice, negligence, and other infractions will continue to enjoy high scrutiny, with appropriate sanctions meted out to those found culpable. I call on the Radiographers Registration Board to ensure this agenda in the practice of radiography across the country,” he said.
The minister emphasised that a well-regulated and highly skilled workforce ensures accurate diagnoses, safer procedures, and improved patient outcomes.
He urged the board to expand licensing coverage, enforce ethical standards, and uphold radiation safety protocols, while using digital platforms to enhance service delivery to underserved areas.
Salako also commended the government and people of Enugu State for providing an enabling environment and praised Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his transformative overhaul of the state’s health sector.
He further acknowledged the critical role of radiographers nationwide, describing them as the backbone of diagnostic healthcare.
“Your work in producing, analysing, and optimising diagnostic images from X-ray, MRI, CT, and ultrasound remains a life-saving cornerstone of modern healthcare,” Salako said, urging practitioners to continuously improve their skills.
Finally, he paid tribute to Prof. Okeji, who is winding down his tenure as registrar, for his contributions to the development of radiography in Nigeria.
He said, “As we cut the ribbon and inaugurate this Enugu Zonal Office, we reaffirm our commitment to a Nigeria where every patient receives safe, timely, and high-quality radiography services.”
Salako noted that the commissioning signals a renewed Federal Government push for professional excellence and strict enforcement of standards in the health sector.