The Federal Government has come under criticism as foreign exchange outflow for health-related travel by Nigerians surged to $549.29m in the first nine months of 2025, a 17.96 per cent increase from $465.67m in the same period of 2024.
The foreign exchange refers to the personal allowance an individual can obtain from the Central Bank of Nigeria for medical travel abroad. While the CBN tracks the FX outflow, it does not monitor how the money is spent.
However, Analysts and health experts slammed the government for failing to curb medical tourism despite repeated pledges to improve local healthcare infrastructure and reduce dependence on treatment abroad.
The analysis of the CBN quarterly statistical bulletin for Q3 2025 shows sustained growth in medical-related travel expenses. Nigerians spent $151.53m in Q1 2025, $189.41m in Q2, and $208.35m in Q3, bringing the nine-month total to $549.29m. By comparison, the same period in 2024 recorded $142.95m, $153.67m, and $169.04m, respectively.
