From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has said that the establishment of new federal tertiary health institutions across the country underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to making healthcare a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Salako stated this on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the Ovie of Udu Kingdom in Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Engr. Michael Ogheneove Orugbo, Okporua I, who paid a courtesy visit to his office.
A statement issued by the Assistant Director of Media and Publicity in the ministry, Ado Bako, said the minister described the creation of more federal tertiary health institutions as evidence of the administration’s determination to expand access to quality healthcare.
He said the Tinubu-led administration had, within a short period, established more federal tertiary health institutions than previous governments, describing it as a major milestone in Nigeria’s health sector development.
Salako expressed appreciation for the visit, noting that it was significant that community leaders whose domains benefited from federal health institutions were engaging directly with the ministry.
He commended the Ovie for what he described as his passion for healthcare development, particularly in facilitating the establishment of a federal medical centre in Udu Kingdom.
According to him, the Federal Medical Centre in Udu was approved and enabled by President Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The minister also appreciated the Delta State Government for its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health in supporting the project’s take-off.
He disclosed that a directive had been given to the Medical Director of the facility to develop a five-year working plan to guide budgeting and implementation processes.
Salako added that the groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent site of the hospital would be carried out before the end of President Tinubu’s first term.
He further thanked the Ovie of Udu Kingdom for donating drugs worth millions of naira to the facility, as well as the community’s provision of land and contributions from the Oyeye Foundation, which donated digital equipment.
The minister said the Federal Government had also provided medical commodities worth millions of naira to support the hospital’s operations, stressing that the facility belonged to the people and required collective protection.
He urged community stakeholders to work closely with government to ensure continuity and successful implementation of health policies.
Salako also directed the Medical Director to liaise with the Ministry’s Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics for proper integration of the donated digital systems into the ministry’s health framework.
Earlier, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, Engr. Michael Ogheneove Orugbo, Okporua I, expressed appreciation to the minister for his role in facilitating the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre in his domain, describing it as a major achievement for the community.
He noted that Udu Kingdom hosts key economic assets, including the former Delta Steel Company, one of Africa’s earliest direct steel production plants, and one of the largest gas facilities in West Africa.
Despite these, the monarch said the community placed greater priority on healthcare development, describing health and education as the “fore-burner of societal development.”
He pledged continued support for the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to ensure the swift take-off of the project at its temporary site, donated by the Delta Steel Company.
The royal father also thanked the minister for appointing a son of the kingdom as Medical Director of the centre and urged expedited action on the groundbreaking of the permanent site.
The Ovie was accompanied by the Deputy National Chairman (APC South), Dr. Ben Nwoye, and other prominent community leaders.