Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has notched a massive milestone in his administration's ongoing healthcare drive with the official commissioning of a brand-new General Hospital and a fully remodelled Neuropsychiatric Hospital, both sited side by side at Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
Two Transformative Projects, One Strategic Compound
The high-profile commissioning ceremony brought together top government functionaries, traditional and community leaders, and enthusiastic residents eager to witness the rebirth of a facility many had long known for years of abandonment and neglect.
Adding national significance to the event, the outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe who was in Port Harcourt for the association's annual conference served as the Special Guest of Honour and performed the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.
From a Den of Neglect to a World-Class Mental Health Facility
The Neuropsychiatric Hospital, originally conceived back in 1970 and first commissioned in 1977 with a modest 50-bed capacity, had over the decades deteriorated into a shadow of its former self. Governor Fubara did not mince words while recounting the shocking state in which his administration met the premises, noting that it had degenerated into a sanctuary for illicit drug activities.
"This premises was a drug trafficking centre. We keep people in the Rehabilitation Centre, but some of our people innocently come here to play football while others are carrying bags to sell drugs to the inmates," the Governor disclosed.
Turning that dark narrative around, the newly upgraded complex now features an expansive 100-bed standard rehabilitation centre dedicated to treating mental health and substance abuse challenges. Beyond the specialized wards, the facility is fully kitted with:
Modern consulting rooms, a well-
stocked pharmacy, and a diagnostics
laboratory.
An electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
centre and an ICT hub.
Recreational spaces, a large meeting
hall, a 216-bed students' hostel, and
staff quarters comprising 12 two-
bedroom apartments.
Heavy perimeter fencing and restricted
gate access to permanently lock out
unauthorized intruders.
Governor Fubara noted that the spike in mental health struggles driven by economic pressures, unemployment, and depression makes such robust facilities an absolute necessity rather than a luxury.
Filling a Major Healthcare Gap in Obio/Akpor
Addressing the brand-new General Hospital built within the same expansive compound, Governor Fubara pointed out that Obio/Akpor one of the state’s most populous local government areas had historically relied almost entirely on primary healthcare centres, forcing sick residents to travel far to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for secondary care.
The newly minted General Hospital changes that narrative completely. According to the State Ministry of Health, the facility comes fully equipped with:
Accident & Emergency services, an
Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and a
Newborn Intensive Care Unit
(NICU).
Fully functional operating theatres,
surgical recovery rooms, and a Central
Sterilising Services Department.
Maternity, antenatal, and postnatal
units, alongside dedicated 50-bed male
and female general wards and private
VIP wards.
To ensure uninterrupted medical services, the entire dual-hospital complex is backed by a 500KVA transformer, a 350KVA generator, and a heavy-duty solar-inverter system providing 120KVA, alongside brand-new operational ambulances assigned to both institutions.
Stakeholder Applauds and a Call for Protection
Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr. Gift Worlu, lauded the Governor for prioritizing public health, noting that the mental health center fills an urgent local need. Outgoing NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe also commended the administration, emphasizing the critical role of institutional mental healthcare in modern societal development.
As the Fubara administration continues to balance its infrastructural push across education, housing, and health, residents of Rumuigbo and the wider Obio/Akpor community have been charged to protect these legacy assets from vandalism.
What are your thoughts on this major healthcare upgrade in Obio/Akpor? Let us know in the comments section below!
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