Utako hospital, 14 FCT general hospitals for upgrade

Fourteen general hospitals in Abuja will be upgraded with new medical equipment, diagnostic facilities and theatre upgrades.

This followed an approval by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Executive Council

The Council also approved the resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital.

The decisions were taken at the council’s 19th meeting presided by Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike and attended by Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Hon. Chidi Amadi, said the council considered 20 memoranda covering health, education, justice, security, power, land administration, environmental management and water supply.

Mandate Secretary, Health Secretariat and Environmental Services, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said the rehabilitation of the 14 general hospitals would include the provision of X-ray machines, diagnostic equipment and upgrades to hospital theatres.

She said Wike had also directed the immediate commencement of work on the Utako hospital, covering construction, equipping and staffing.

The interventions, she said, were aimed at improving access to quality and affordable healthcare in the FCT.

The council also approved the digitisation of the FCT High Court, covering about 67 courtrooms.

General Counsel, Salman Dako, said electronic recording and case-management systems would replace manual recording and physical filing of cases. Implementation, he added, would commence immediately.

The Education Secretariat secured approval for two contracts for examination materials for pupils and students in public primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools.

Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr Danlami Hayyo, said the move was part of efforts to improve public schools through infrastructure rehabilitation and provision of instructional materials.

The Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) also secured approval for a N5.703 billion contract for a 33KVA power supply line from Dawaki to Tukulo and surrounding villages in Bwari Area Council.

Coordinator of STDD, Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said CGC Nigeria Limited was awarded the contract, which has an eight-month completion period.

The council ratified two completed road projects—the Gaba-Tukulo Road and two-span bridge in Bwari, awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited for N8.219 billion, and the Paikon Kore-Ibuwa Road in Gwagwalada, also awarded to Setraco for N8.890 billion.

The FCTA Security Services Department also secured approval for the construction of a divisional police station at the Wasa Informal Sector ahead of the planned relocation of Apo mechanics and artisans to the area.

Director of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, said the project would be completed within six months.

He said the administration plans to establish two divisional police stations in each of the six area councils, adding that stations at Ushafa and Saburi had already been completed and handed over.

The Council also approved ICT infrastructure for the Department of Land Administration and ratified the printing of customised revenue receipts with enhanced security features.

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council received approval for maintenance works, particularly on waterways, while the FCT Water Board secured approval for the supply of high-test hypochlorite for water treatment and renewal of insurance for facilities at the Lower Usman Dam Treatment Plant.