By Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The Kogi State government is set to spend over ₦7 billion to revamp an additional 88 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the 21 local government areas in the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo disclosed this during a ceremony held at the Model Primary Healthcare Centre in Felele, Lokoja, to officially hand over the sites of the 88 additional PHCs to contractors for revitalisation across the state.
Governor Ododo, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams, noted that the revitalisation of these new PHCs follows the commencement of work on over 70 PHCs, which are at various stages of completion after receiving state government approval in March 2024.
He highlighted that the revamping of the PHCs, which will upgrade over 150 such institutions in the state to functional Level-2 health facilities, underscores the present administration’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access across the state.
The Governor added that this upgrade is part of the strategic plan of the Kogi State government to improve access to quality healthcare services statewide, with support from the World Bank.
“As we step into the New Year 2025, we are proud to launch a groundbreaking initiative—the upgrade of 88 additional Primary Healthcare Centres across the state, complementing the ongoing upgrade of 70 PHCs to functional Level-2 facilities.
“This marks another bold step towards achieving effective healthcare delivery and universal health coverage for our people.
“With invaluable support from the World Bank, the Kogi State Government has committed over ₦7 billion to this project, a testament to our unwavering dedication to improving the lives of our citizens,” Governor Ododo said.
Governor Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership, prioritising enhanced access to healthcare, particularly for grassroots communities.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the immediate past administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello for laying a solid foundation in the state’s health sector.
He called on contractors to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism in executing the projects and to ensure their timely completion within four months.
The Governor urged contractors to engage with local government authorities and stakeholders for an inclusive approach towards social and environmental safeguards in project implementation. He also called on local authorities and community stakeholders to take ownership and ensure the protection of personnel, equipment, and the PHCs upon completion.
Effective supervision of the projects by relevant government authorities, under the coordination of the state Ministry of Health, was also emphasised.