The Abia State Government has announced plans to construct a $1.3 billion Medical City, a flagship healthcare infrastructure initiative aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign medical care and curbing the ongoing brain drain in the health sector.
Speaking during a press briefing at the proposed 200-hectare site in Owerrinta, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, revealed that the government has entered into a Development, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) agreement with a foreign consortium to deliver the project within 24 months.
According to Professor Uche, the Medical City will be a comprehensive health and medical education hub built to international standards. It will feature a 1,000-bed ultramodern hospital, a cutting-edge oncology centre, a digital diagnostics complex, and specialized surgical and transplant units, including facilities for robotic and organ surgeries.
The Health Commissioner cited the staggering $1.6 billion Nigeria loses annually to medical tourism as the economic impetus behind the initiative. “This Medical City is our bold response to the unsustainable trend of Nigerians seeking medical care abroad,” he stated. “It will also offer a conducive work environment to discourage the emigration of Nigerian doctors and nurses.”
Beyond providing world-class clinical services, the Medical City is designed to function as a premier training and research institution. It will partner with leading international universities and cater to medical students and residents from across Nigeria and beyond.
During a media tour of the site, local residents expressed optimism about the project’s potential benefits to their community. Mr. Reuben Abraham, Ms. Ahuchauba Ebere, and Mr. Chidi Erondo commended the government’s decision to site the facility in Owerrinta, noting that it promises to bring jobs, infrastructure, and socio-economic development.
They, however, appealed to the state government to ensure inclusive participation of community members throughout the project’s execution.
The Abia Medical City is expected to become one of the most advanced medical complexes in West Africa upon completion.