Saudi Arabia Restores Sight in Ibadan With Free Cataract Surgeries
‘Saudi Noor’ Initiative extends sight-saving intervention to Oyo residents
By Abdullahi Yusuf
with report from Muslim News
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has flagged off a free eye care mission in Ibadan, Oyo State, offering life-changing surgeries and optical treatment to thousands of residents under its global humanitarian programme.
The medical outreach, which commenced Friday, August 1, is being held at the Makkah Specialist Eye Hospital, Elebu, and is scheduled to run until Thursday, August 7, 2025. It is powered by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) under the Kingdom’s internationally acclaimed “Saudi Noor” initiative.
The Ibadan exercise comes just three months after a similar intervention in Lagos, where over 4,000 cataract surgeries were successfully carried out at the Gbagada General Hospital.
In a statement obtained by Muslim News, Saudi Arabia’s Press Attaché to Nigeria, Mohammed Alsahabi, said the initiative is in line with the directive of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“This is more than a medical mission – it is about restoring dignity and vision to those who need it most,” Alsahabi said.
He explained that the programme offers a comprehensive range of services, including diagnostic eye screenings, cataract surgeries with intraocular lens (IOL) implants, correction of refractive errors, and free distribution of prescription eyeglasses – all at no cost to beneficiaries.
“The Ibadan phase is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to eradicate preventable blindness in underserved populations, both within Nigeria and globally,” he added.
According to KSrelief data, the blindness prevention programme, launched in 2019, has so far enabled more than 21,000 surgeries, conducted 218,000 eye exams, and distributed over 45,000 eyeglasses across Nigeria — with previous operations held in Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, and Lagos.
Globally, KSrelief has executed more than 3,600 humanitarian projects in over 100 countries since its inception in 2015. The sight-restoration programme is currently active in countries such as Sudan, Bangladesh, Yemen, and Mauritania.
“The outreach in Ibadan reinforces the Kingdom’s commitment to healthcare equity and global humanitarian service,” Alsahabi said.
Beneficiaries in Ibadan have begun expressing their appreciation. Alhaji Tajudeen Adebayo, one of the first recipients of care, praised the gesture as inclusive and life-saving.
“This isn’t about religion. Whether Christian or Muslim, they are attending to us with kindness. May God bless Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Another patient, Kasali Mariam, shared her optimism. “I’ve just been screened and waiting for my surgery. I’m hopeful this will solve my vision problem. I’m truly grateful.”
The initiative also serves to deepen diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, showcasing a shared vision for human dignity, accessible healthcare, and social intervention.
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