Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has expressed confidence that the ongoing Ibom International Hospital project in Uyo will be completed as a world-class medical facility capable of providing advanced healthcare services to residents of the state, Nigeria and beyond.
Governor Eno stated this during an unscheduled inspection of the project site, less than two months after the foundation stone was laid. He inspected the ongoing construction works and assessed the pace and quality of work at the facility.
The Governor commended the Commissioner for Health, project coordinator, contractors, doctors, consultants and other professionals involved in the project, describing their commitment as evidence of his administration’s determination to provide a high-quality healthcare facility for the people.
He expressed optimism that the hospital, when completed, would rank among the best medical facilities in Nigeria and Africa.
“I believe we will deliver for Akwa Ibom people, a world-class medical facility, not just for Akwa Ibom, but within the region,” Eno said.
The Governor described the project as part of his administration’s continued investment in the health sector, stressing that the wellbeing of citizens remained a major priority of his development agenda.
According to him, investments in roads, infrastructure and other public facilities would have little meaning if residents were not healthy enough to enjoy them.
Governor Eno also highlighted the cancer treatment component of the hospital, noting that the lack of access to early diagnostic services often leads to late detection of cancer, making treatment more difficult and increasing the risk of fatalities.
He said the new facility would enable residents to undergo regular medical examinations and benefit from early diagnosis, thereby increasing the chances of successful treatment and extending lives.
The Governor further urged residents to embrace health insurance, warning that specialised treatments and surgical procedures could impose significant financial burdens on families paying medical bills entirely out of pocket.
“Having insurance policy is the only way a lot of us would benefit from it because there are treatments you may want to access here but may not be able to pay the bills,” he said.
Eno encouraged residents to voluntarily enrol in available health insurance schemes rather than wait until participation becomes compulsory, noting that affordable options were already available.
He maintained that the administration’s investments in healthcare were aimed at addressing current medical needs while building a stronger and more sustainable health system for future generations.
Speaking on the project, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, said the medical community was actively involved in the conception, planning and development of the facility.
He disclosed that the state government consulted 25 health-sector unions and their leadership, while medical specialists from local and international institutions contributed to the design and planning process.
According to him, about 40 consultants across various medical specialties assessed the healthcare needs of Akwa Ibom State and helped determine the facilities and services required at the hospital.
He added that experts from Germany and the United States, alongside consultants from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, National Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, participated in the process.
The project team said construction was progressing simultaneously across the three major wings of the hospital, with different teams working day and night to accelerate completion.
The Consultant and Coordinator of the project, Dr Teinye Isokariari, disclosed that Governor Eno had set June 2027 as the target for completion, but said the team was working to deliver the project ahead of schedule.
The Structural Engineer, Mohammed Bita, explained that the three wings were being constructed as independent projects to speed up the work and ensure timely delivery.
When completed, the Ibom International Hospital is expected to expand access to specialised healthcare services in Akwa Ibom, improve early diagnosis and treatment, and reduce the need for residents to travel outside the state for certain medical procedures.
Earlier in the day, Governor Eno also inspected the Command and Control Centre, the AKWA-GIS building and the new Governor’s Office Annex along Dominic Utuk Avenue in Uyo.
