• Governor inaugurates zonal hospital

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday, said that his administration took over primary healthcare from the local government to show the priority it attached to healthcare.

The governor said the decision was yielding its desired results and recalled that the people suffered greatly when the responsibility was left to the local councils.

Fubara spoke during the inauguration of the Ahoada Zonal Hospital, a secondary healthcare facility built to serve residents of the Rivers West Senatorial District.

He said the government made the right decision to embark on major hospital projects across the state.

He said, “What we are doing here is to support the local government, as some of these responsibilities are primarily theirs. Primary healthcare was left with the LGA, and we suffered a lot, and we said that if we have to get results some of these responsibilities need to be taken away. I am happy that taking that responsibility away is yielding positive results.”

The governor said his administration had already inaugurated the Ahoada and Bori Zonal Hospitals, disclosing that other facilities in Degema and Etche would be completed and inaugurated before the end of March next year.

He noted that beyond road and housing projects, the government was making huge investments in education and quality healthcare as key pillars of effective administration.

Fubara said all ongoing projects in Ahoada would be completed and new ones initiated as requested by the people of the area.

The governor commended the people of Ahoada for their support and appealed for continued cooperation in advancing the development of the state.

He called on all stakeholders in the area to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make his re-election easier in the state.

Speaking about the project, Fubara said, “This project is not just one that we inherited, but also my pre-decorated inheritance. The question is, we have this quality of service that we have to render to the people of Ahoada and, in extension, to Abua, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and Emohua, the closest neighbour. So rather than one running to BMH, if you can get the attention of a teaching Hospital, the closest will be this one.

“So, you can see how important this project is. We didn’t make any mistakes to dive into this complicated project. Not just this, we have a similar one in Bori, Degema, Omoku, and in Etche. To the glory of God, that of Bori has been commissioned and put to use, and this one today will definitely be put to use after commissioning.

“By the grace of God, before the end of March 2026, we will be commissioning that of Degema and Omoku. What are we trying to tell our people? Your health is important to us; your business survival is crucial.

“No matter how much you have, you also need good health to enjoy that wealth. What we have done here today is to tell you that the well-being of our people is the top priority of this government. I want to thank the Ministry of Health for its commitment to this project.

“You have shown me so much love in the face of everything. You have stood by me, your sons and daughters have stood by me. They made a lot of sacrifices, and some are suffering because of me. So, what is the little thing that I can do? It is to make sure that I continue to support the people of the Ekpeye kingdom.”

On Tinubu’s reelection, Fubara said, “Let me finally appeal to every one of you. We have a responsibility that we have all taken upon ourselves. And that responsibility is to make 2027 easier for the President, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, in Rivers State.

“And making the election of 2027 easy, these are the things that we are doing so that our people will say if this government can be this responsible and concerned, we have every reason to listen to them and support them.

“So please, our message here is that we know that you have the machinery on how to do it. Start work so that 2027 for Mr. President will be an easy ride in this Orashi region. (The Nation)