The lack of maintenance for public infrastructure in Nigeria has been a major problem affecting the growth of the country, Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said.
Speaking at a civic reception in his honour in Asaba, during his one-day working visit to Delta State at the weekend, Mr Jonathan also reaffirmed his commitment to the restoration of hope and confidence in the restive Niger Delta region. The president commissioned the Delta State Teaching Hospital and the Headquarters of the Nigerian Naval Logistics Command, both of which are situated in Oghara, the home town of the embattled former governor of the state, James Ibori and were built by the state government.
He commended the modern facilities at the teaching hospital, saying that “it will stem the current capital flight as a result of prominent Nigerians seeking overseas medical treatment.” Mr Jonathan also affirmed his administration’s commitment to equipping and modernizing the armed forces, and commended the state for building such projects and handing them over to federal government to manage, without requesting for claims.
The new hospital, with its state of the art equipment, is positioned at a strategic part of the town with enough space for parking, and which will be accessed by many from the region. An X-ray, Computerized Topography (CT) scan unit, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Fluoroscopy (screening) Suite, Digital Mammography, 4D Ultrasound and Radiology, with more than one isolation unit, are some of the equipment available at the hospital.
The Naval command project, according to the Chief of Naval Staff, Ishaya Iko-Ibrahim, was started in 2006, by Mr. Ibori “knowing that accommodation was important the Navy.” Mr. Jonathan, who expressed worry that a lack of a maintenance culture in Nigeria might soon reduce the structures to ruin, called for the pool of well-trained professionals in the armed forces to be deployed to other civil duties, as is done in other countries. During a courtesy call on the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, Isaac Boyi Umukoro, Oreki II, the president thanked the people of the Kingdom for the warm reception and the peace in the community. The royal father asked the president to ensure that “our children are given jobs in these projects, as we gave the state our support while they were building till the completion.”
Support for federal government
Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who received presidential commendation for “his vision of a Delta without oil,” praised the leadership qualities of the president and pledged the “wholehearted support and loyalty of the government and people of the state,” to the federal government, and support for the amnesty programme.
“Peace is key to the development of the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general,” he said.
The president also said that his determination to ensure that “children in the Niger Delta will no longer need to carry weapons in order to earn a living,” informed his weekly meetings with governors of the region.
The home town of Mr Ibori is among the most developed in the state. With facilities that many of the citizens think should have been situated in the state capital, Oghara is envied by other clans in the state. Some of the citizens who spoke to NEXT said “such a hospital should have been situated in Asaba, the state capital.”
Security reports preceding the visit had reported that the Oghara youths were planning to stage a protest on behalf of their ex governor. Hundreds if women, men and the youths alike all came out in different groups to the side of the road to see the president and there was no sign of protest which had been rumoured.