Mirian Gom 
Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Pate
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government establishes a National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety to curb medical errors and improve healthcare outcomes nationwide.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, announced the initiative on Thursday via his official X account, describing it as a critical step under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Pate chairs the task force, with Minister of State for Health Iziaq Salako serving as alternate chair.
“The task force supports sustainable clinical governance structures, accountability mechanisms, and patient safety standards across Nigeria’s health system,” Pate says.
The move follows renewed public concern over medical negligence, including allegations raised by acclaimed author Chimamanda Adichie after the death of her 21-month-old son.
Studies reveal alarming trends. A 2025 African Research Journal of Medical Sciences report shows medical error rates among Nigerian practitioners ranging from 42.8 to 89.8 per cent, with a third of patients suffering additional injuries.
Pate notes that globally, poor-quality care accounts for 60 per cent of avoidable deaths in low- and middle-income countries, costing billions annually.
The task force will standardise clinical governance frameworks, strengthen adverse-event reporting, enhance workforce capacity, and align Nigeria’s health system with WHO and SDG 3.8 targets.
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