Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the immediate completion and equipping of the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital as part of a major overhaul of healthcare facilities across the territory.
The minister also approved the renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of all 14 existing general hospitals in the FCT, with the facilities to receive modern medical equipment and improved infrastructure.
The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists after the 19th FCT Executive Council meeting.
Fasawe said the Executive Council deliberated extensively on the state of healthcare delivery in the territory before approving the comprehensive intervention.
‘Today at the Executive Council, there were a lot of deliberations, and there was a particular deliberation on the health system. I am happy to say that the Minister has ordered the immediate award of renovation, rehabilitation, and upgrading of all the general hospitals in the FCT,’ she said.
According to her, the upgrade will involve a comprehensive overhaul of infrastructure and the provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment, including advanced diagnostic machines, X-ray machines and modern surgical equipment for operating theatres.
On the Utako General Hospital, Fasawe said Wike had directed the immediate resumption of work on the abandoned project, its full equipping and the deployment of medical personnel to enable the facility commence operations.
She added that the FCT Administration had also maintained consistent payment to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) for premium and capitation under the territory’s health insurance scheme.
‘What then happens now is that when the hospitals are upgraded, the equipment are there, and the personnel are there, then quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare will be available for the people of the FCT,’ she said.
The planned intervention, which covers primary and secondary healthcare facilities across the six Area Councils, is expected to improve access to healthcare and reduce pressure on tertiary health institutions in the capital.
Wike approves police station for Wasa informal sector
In a related development, Wike has approved the construction of a new divisional police station at the Wasa Informal Sector as part of measures to strengthen security ahead of the planned relocation of mechanics and artisans from Apo.
The approval was given at the 19th FCT Executive Council meeting following a memo seeking the immediate provision of security infrastructure in the area.
The Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwari, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the meeting.
Gwari said the police station was a fresh contract with a six-month delivery timeline, adding that the facility would provide security for the informal sector and surrounding communities.
‘The Minister directed that there should be a police station that will provide security not only for the sector, but for the entire area.
‘This contract is a fresh contract which has been duly approved by the EXCO with a duration of a six-month delivery period,’ he said.
He explained that the project followed a directive issued by Wike during the commissioning of the site’s initial infrastructure in July, when concerns were raised about security ahead of the expected influx of artisans and business activities.
Gwari said the project was also part of the minister’s broader security initiative launched in December to bring policing closer to rural and developing communities across the FCT.
Under the initiative, the administration plans to construct two divisional police stations in each of the six Area Councils.
Giving an update on the programme, Gwari said construction was at an advanced stage at several locations, while the FCTA Department of Public Building had already taken delivery of two completed and furnished police stations.
‘At the moment, Public Building has taken delivery of two fully completed police divisions: the one at Ushafa and the other one at Saburi,’ he said.
He added that each facility comprised a furnished divisional police station and a furnished six-man staff quarters.
Gwari assured residents that the administration remained committed to bringing security infrastructure closer to communities, adding that the minister was expected to inspect some of the newly completed facilities in the coming days.