The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Monday handed over a hospital facility worth N150million to Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) in Ebonyi State.
The Commission made the handover in Afikpo-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi through it Chairman, Prof Bolaji Owasanoye, who was represented by Nzebunachi Chukwuma, an ICPC Superintendent.
He noted that the project at Ebunwana Community in Afikpo South local government area of the state was tracked by Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Group (CEPTG) of the ICPC.
Owasanoye said the hospital which is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities was conceived as a Medical outpost of FUNAI in the area.
According to him, the hospital was meant to serve as a Teaching Hospital for her medical students.
“The project was appropriated in 2019 and completed in March 2020 at the cost of the above. It was facilitated by the former Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji.
“After the completion, the local community unofficially took over the hospital even though it was not meant for the community but they went ahead to appoint a consultant to manage the hospital on an arrangement of a profit-sharing formula between the community and the consultant.
“The project have been recovered by the CEPTG team and is being handed over to the university community March 25, 2022.
“Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to unravel how the local community got access and took control of the hospital without any official ceremony,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Sunday Elom, who was represented by Prof Smart Otu, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, described the project as a unique intervention.
Elom assured the community of immediate and effective commencement of activity in the hospital.
He commended ICPC Chairman for initiating such project and discribed it as a welcome development, capable of preventing execution of substandard ventures and also stimulate people into delivering good jobs.
“The community should know they will be first beneficiary of the project. We will collaborate to ensure the place is used optimally,” Elom said.
Meanwhile, the Director of Physical Planning, Works and Services AE-FUNAI, Dr Ezeocha Iheanacho stated that the structure and equipment of the project were in good state.
“What we met at the hospital is satisfactory,” Iheanacho said.
The community Chairman, Dr Ama Udu-Aka expressed satisfaction that the mutual relationship anticipated was coming to play and hoped it continues.
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