Kogi to spend N7bn on rehabilitation of 88 primary healthcare centres

The Kogi state government says it will spend over N7 billion to revitalise 88 primary healthcare centres across the 21 LGAs of the state.

In a statement on Saturday, Ismaila Isah, special adviser on media to Usman Ododo, the state governor, said his principal made the promise during a ceremony at the Model Primary Healthcare Centre in Felele, Lokoja.

Ododo, represented by Abdulazeez Adams, the state commissioner for health, said the event marked the official handover of the 88 sites to contractors for the revitalisation project.

Ododo noted that upgrading the facilities to functional Level-2 health centres aligns with the administration’s commitment to improving healthcare access across the state.

“As we step into the New Year 2025, we are proud to launch a groundbreaking initiative — the upgrade of 88 additional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state, complementing the ongoing upgrade of 70 PHCs to functional Level-2 facilities,” he said.

“This marks another bold step towards achieving effective healthcare delivery and universal health coverage for our people.

“With the invaluable support of 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.”

The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for prioritising grassroots healthcare.

He commended the former administration of Yahaya Bello for laying the groundwork in the state’s health sector.

He urged contractors to maintain high professional standards and ensure timely completion of the projects within four months.

Ododo urged contractors to collaborate with local authorities and community stakeholders for inclusive implementation.

He also urged communities to take ownership of the healthcare centres, ensuring the safety of equipment, personnel, and facilities.

The governor tasked relevant government authorities, under the coordination of the state ministry of health, with supervising the projects effectively.