The Federal Government on Saturday commissioned five major infrastructure projects at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, as part of efforts to enhance tertiary healthcare services across Nigeria.
The projects—executed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—include a 68-room Consultant Office Complex, a 180-bed Ward Extension, a modern Laundry Facility, a Works and Maintenance Department, and a new Administrative Block.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, underscored the importance of collaboration in improving healthcare delivery.
“The Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, and other institutions across the state play a crucial role in delivering efficient and effective medical care,” Abiodun said. “What matters to the people is not who delivers the care, but that the care is delivered effectively.”
Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the governor added, “Health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for.”
Governor Abiodun also pledged continued state government support for public health initiatives, particularly in preventive care, health education, and promotion of healthy lifestyles. In a landmark announcement, he donated the Ogun State Model College building at Onijogbon-Jongon to serve as the take-off site for the newly approved Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta.
“Following the request of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and in appreciation of the Federal Government’s approval of this prestigious university, we have decided to donate yet another existing facility,” he stated.
The governor expressed gratitude for having the newly commissioned Works and Maintenance Department building named after him, describing it as a “deeply humbling honor.”
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, lauded the commissioning as a major milestone in President Tinubu’s healthcare transformation drive.
“As part of the president’s second anniversary, we are commissioning strategic health projects nationwide that touch on clinical care, administration, and support services,” Dr. Salako said.
He emphasized that the upgrades at FMC Abeokuta would address persistent issues such as bed shortages and poor staff welfare. He also revealed that over the past two years, 12 new tertiary health institutions have been established and more than 15,000 health workers recruited across 61 hospitals.
“The goal is clear—to reverse medical tourism, retain top talent, and deliver excellent care at home,” he said.
The minister praised the facility’s leadership for initiatives like staff transportation schemes and commended Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, the outgoing Chief Medical Director, for what he described as “transformative leadership.”
In his remarks, Prof. Musa-Olomu reflected on the facility’s remarkable transformation since his appointment in 2017.
“This site was once a football pitch. Today, it houses an international conference centre and other facilities that rival top hospitals,” he noted.
He listed major milestones, including the President Muhammadu Buhari International Conference Centre, a 20-bed ICU, and telemedicine infrastructure. The newly inaugurated buildings, he added, have been named in honor of key contributors: Governor Dapo Abiodun (Works and Maintenance), former Governor Olusegun Osoba (Consultant Office Complex), and Dr. Ade Abolurin (Laundry Facility).
Describing the projects as “legacy achievements,” Prof. Musa-Olomu thanked the board, staff, and federal authorities for their support.
Chairman of the Hospital Management Board, Dr. Dayo Israel, applauded the synergy between the federal and state governments, revealing that the hospital plans to build a new Accident and Emergency Unit, a General Outpatient Department, and a MegaLab.
“With these projects, FMC Abeokuta is well on its way to becoming a centre of excellence,” he stated.
The event concluded with a renewed call for cooperation between all healthcare stakeholders to ensure inclusive and sustainable development in Nigeria’s health sector.