FCTA approves overhaul of 14 hospitals

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has approved the immediate renovation and upgrading of all 14 general hospitals in the territory, while directing the resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital.

The health-sector decisions were among resolutions reached at the 19th meeting of the FCT Executive Council, presided over by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and attended by the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi, said the council considered 20 memoranda submitted by various secretariats, departments and agencies.

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Giving details of the health resolutions, the Mandate Secretary, Health Secretariat and Environmental Services, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said the council approved the immediate commencement of renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of the 14 general hospitals across the FCT.

She said the intervention would include the procurement of new medical equipment, X-ray machines and diagnostic materials, as well as upgrades to hospital theatres.

Fasawe also disclosed that Wike had directed the immediate resumption of work on the Utako General Hospital, which had been abandoned for several years.

She said the project would involve the construction, equipping and staffing of the facility, adding that the interventions were aimed at improving access to quality and affordable healthcare for residents.

Fasawe said the administration had also continued to meet its financial obligations to health insurance providers and Health Maintenance Organisations through the payment of premiums and capitation.

The council also approved the digitalisation of the FCT High Court, covering about 67 courtrooms across its judicial divisions.

The General Counsel, Mr Salman Dako, said the project would introduce electronic court recording and case-management systems to replace manual recording and physical filing.

He said the initiative was designed to address challenges associated with handwritten records and manual documentation, adding that implementation would commence immediately, with noticeable improvements expected within two weeks.

In the education sector, the council approved two contracts for the provision of examination materials for pupils and students in primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools across the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr Danlami Hayyo, said the approval was part of efforts to sustain the administration’s transformation of public schools through renovation, rehabilitation, improved classroom facilities and provision of instructional materials.

Hayyo said the improvements in public school infrastructure had encouraged some parents to transfer their children from private to public schools.

He said the provision of examination materials would facilitate the smooth conduct of examinations across public schools in the territory.

The Satellite Towns Development Department also secured approval for a N5.703 billion contract for the construction of a 33KVA power supply line from Dawaki to Tukulo and surrounding communities in Bwari Area Council.

The Coordinator of the department, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said the contract was awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited and would be completed within eight months.

The council also ratified two completed and commissioned road projects in the satellite towns.

They are the Gaba-Tukulo Road and two-span river bridge in Bwari Area Council, awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited at N8.219 billion, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT, and the rehabilitation of the Paikon Kore-Ibuwa Road in Gwagwalada Area Council, also awarded to Setraco at N8.890 billion, inclusive of VAT.

Zulkiflu said both projects had a 12-month completion period and had already been completed and commissioned.

In land administration, the council approved three memoranda aimed at strengthening operations and revenue collection.

The Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said the approvals included the procurement of utility vehicles and an integrated ICT infrastructure for the department.

He said the ICT upgrade would include desktop computers, workstations, display screens, scanners, network switches, fibre-optic connections, data-centre servers, monitoring systems and cooling facilities.

The council also ratified the award of a contract for the printing of customised revenue receipt booklets.

Nwankwoeze said the redesigned receipts would carry enhanced security features to prevent alteration and fraudulent practices in land revenue collection.

He said the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company would print the new receipts.

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) secured approval for six memoranda, five of which were for ratification and one for fresh approval.

The Overseeing Coordinator of AMMC, Mrs Mary Amina Ahmadu, said the approvals would support maintenance works across the capital, particularly in waterways and other areas affected by environmental challenges.

She said indiscriminate dumping of refuse had contributed to blocked waterways and flooding in parts of the territory, stressing the need for sustained maintenance and environmental management.

The FCT Water Board also secured approval for two memoranda, including the supply of powdered chlorine, known as high-test hypochlorite (HTH), for water treatment.

The Acting General Manager of the Water Board, Mrs Chinyere Elechi, said the chemical was essential for disinfecting water and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms before distribution to consumers.

She said adequate water treatment was necessary to prevent waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid and dysentery.

The second memorandum approved for the Water Board concerned the renewal of insurance for facilities associated with the Lower Usman Dam Treatment Plant.

On security, the Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, said the council approved the construction of a new divisional police station at the Wasa Informal Sector ahead of the planned relocation of Apo mechanics and artisans to the area.

He said the project, which would be delivered within six months, followed the Minister’s directive to provide adequate security for the area and surrounding communities as economic activities increase.

Gwary said the Wasa police station formed part of the administration’s broader plan to bring policing closer to rural and developing communities across the FCT.

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

According to him, each of the completed stations also has a furnished six-man staff quarters.

The 19th FCT Executive Council meeting also approved measures covering justice, education, land administration, power, environmental management, water supply and security as the administration continues its infrastructure and public-service development programme across the territory.