On-air personality and television presenter, Stephanie Coker, has declared her support for the Minister of Health, Ali Pate, following his claim that patients from the US and UK fly to Nigeria for medical treatment.

Shortly after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Pate stated that the government's healthcare investments are beginning to yield results.

“People are now beginning to come from the subregion, and even from faraway places like the UK and the US, to receive quality healthcare in Nigeria,” he said.

The minister noted that, despite challenges, progress is being made in the healthcare sector, aligning with Tinubu’s vision for transformation.

Pate announced that the federal government has approved contracts to equip tertiary health facilities, including a N12 billion investment in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines.

Sharing her experience, Coker revealed how she went for a wellness check and was told her bill was £3950 whereas she got the same test for N300k in a top hospital in Lagos.

Coker said, “Using myself as an example in the case of testing; a wellness check quote I received in the UK was £3950 (private), compared to N300,000 at a top hospital in Lagos. I know its sometimes hard to believe government officials when they say things like this, but it is try in many cases.”

Her comment received mixed reactions from Nigerians.

stkathryns: I know someone that left the UK to have a brain tumour surgery done in Luth and it was successful. Nigerians definitely don’t value what they have. I have never seen citizens of any country hate or badmouth their country like Nigerians. It’s so sad!

youngbabi4u: How much they pay una? No worry lie for dream or real life na still lie

poshbontesignature_backuppage: Pray you don't get sick the current doctors we hve in Nigeria use Google to treat patients

abdulshally: No doubt at all, a lot go to Nigeria but not for better health care, for cheaper healthcare that is still not cheap for a lot of Nigerians living in Nigeria.

ankarafreak: let’s not forget people who comes down to nigeria for fibroids sugery all the way from canada, uk, france i was shocked when i met them and told me their experience

angie__may27: US and UK patients fly to Nigeria for treatment while Nigerian leaders as well as politicians fly to US and UK for treatment.
Even the so-called minister doesn't take treatment in Nigeria

its.yejis: My brother got his dentition treated while he was in Nigeria last year. If you hear the price they do it abroad, you’ll know calabar is a big town.

azu_anu_uka: How many common Nigerian masses can easily afford that N300k? Una go just open mouth waaa n’akogheri.