Abiodun Hands Over Amosun’s 250-Bed Specialist Hospital One Year After PLATFORM TIMES Report
Daud Olatunji
After years of neglect, a 250-bed specialist hospital in Ogun State, which had been abandoned since its construction during the administration of former governor Ibikunle Amosun, has finally been handed over for operation by the current administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
This significant development comes exactly a year after PLATFORM TIMES published a report highlighting the disuse of the facility, which had initially been touted as a game-changer for healthcare in the South-West region.
The state-of-the-art hospital, equipped with over N7 billion worth of medical technology, was initially designed to address critical healthcare needs in Ogun State and the surrounding region.
However, it languished unused for over four years despite over N5 billion reportedly spent on equipment alone.
The facility, built on a sprawling nine-hectare site along Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was intended to offer comprehensive diagnostic, surgical, and emergency services.
It was expected to serve as both a public healthcare center and a hub for private healthcare delivery in collaboration with international medical teams.
In its initial vision, the hospital was supposed to operate as a 60-bed acute surgical and outpatient center with capabilities for critical care.
Plans detailed the inclusion of advanced radiology, intensive care, and neonatal services, as well as a diagnostic and surgical referral center.
The facility was also intended to support medical internships for students from Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital and the School of Nursing, while aiming to provide affordable and high-quality healthcare services.
Despite these ambitious plans, a PLATFORM TIMES investigation last year revealed the dire state of the unused hospital, reporting that it had fallen into disrepair. Weeds overtook the premises, and cracks marred the walls, with security guards restricting access and guarding the expensive, unused equipment inside.
Documents from Amosun’s administration indicated that the hospital had reached 82 percent completion.
However, the Abiodun administration’s hesitance to allocate further funding left the project stalled.
Amid negotiations, the contractor reportedly requested N100 million in monthly payments to continue maintenance, but the government allegedly ignored this appeal, leading to a further escalation in project costs.
The abandonment of the facility left many residents frustrated, with potential healthcare benefits for Ogun State’s citizens unrealized.
Experts noted that a functional 250-bed hospital would have created hundreds of healthcare jobs, providing a critical boost to the community.
The hospital’s strategic location near a train station made it ideally situated to serve a broader population from across the region.
However, in a statement released on November 13, exactly one year after PLATFORM TIMES’ exposé, one of the Governor Abiodun’s media Aides, Emmanuel Ojo, announced that the state government had successfully handed over the hospital to a consortium involving Viewpoint Health Management Services and HealthShare South Africa.
This new partnership, according to Ojo, is aimed at ensuring that the hospital begins operations by mid-2025.
The facility is now expected to become a center for medical research and training, with advanced healthcare equipment set to reduce the need for Ogun State residents to seek medical services abroad.
“Today, we celebrate a major achievement in Ogun State’s healthcare journey—the handover of this 250-bed specialist hospital,” the statement read.
“This project reflects our commitment to complete all inherited projects and provide accessible, world-class healthcare.
Our partnership will bring the hospital’s facilities online by mid-2025, ready to serve as a regional healthcare and research hub.”
Governor Abiodun also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding healthcare services at all levels.
He highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening primary healthcare, improving service delivery, and integrating telemedicine options.
“To the people of Ogun State, we reaffirm our dedication to inclusive growth and invite all stakeholders to join us in building a healthier, stronger Ogun State,” the statement concluded.
With the involvement of South African healthcare management expertise, residents of Ogun State are hopeful that the long-awaited facility will finally fulfill its intended purpose as a beacon of modern healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
This recent move marks a significant step forward for the state’s healthcare sector, signaling an end to years of stalled progress and offering renewed promise of accessible, high-quality healthcare for the region.
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