The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola has called on international organizations carrying out construction work in the nation’s capital to adhere strictly to all approved development control guidelines.
While reiterating the commitment of the FCT Administration to provide the enabling environment for genuine investors to take advantage of, called on other private sectors to emulate Afreximbank by engaging the Administration in bringing up initiatives aimed at enhancing quality standard of living of FCT residents.
He gave the charge during a one-day workshop to finalise the host country agreement for the African Medical Centre of Excellence at Sheraton Hotels, Abuja.
This, according to Adesola becomes necessary considering the fact that there could be tendency for some international organizations embarking on construction work to contravene certain development guidelines.
While speaking on the proposed establishment of African Medical Centre of Excellence in the Lokogoma district of Abuja, which is being developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank),in collaboration with Kings College Hospital,UK,the Permanent Secretary explained that upon completion, the world-class medical centre will ensure access to healthcare services for 50,000,000 people annually, as well as provide 3,000,000 jobs during construction and operational stages.
He, however, added that this health intervention will complement Government’s giant strides in the healthcare sector.
Earlier , the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health Malam Mashi Abdulaziz pledged the continuous support of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the completion of the project.
He further stated the workshop will provide participants better understanding of both the short term and long benefits of the project.
More so, the Regional Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank, Mr. Abdoulaye Kone explained that the proposed medical Centre will serve both Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
Explaining further, the RCOO of Afreximbank, said that the establishment of the AMCE will go a long way in conserving the continent’s foreign reserves which are currently being expended on medical tourism abroad.
It would be recalled that Nigeria was selected in 2017 as the host country for the first African Medical Centre of Excellence, following a competitive bidding process in which Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania also participated.
The AMCE plans to offer a full range of medical services; such as diagnostic; treatment, nuclear medicine, surgery and post-surgical care, along with complimentary specialist services covering oncology, hematological diseases (including sickle cell and blood cancers) and cardiovascular ailments.
The project is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021 and commissioning is expected to be done in the first quarter of 2024.Already the FCT Administration had allocated 5.12 hectares of land for the successful take off of the project.
