Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has flagged off the construction of the Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Umunnato, Alayi Bende LGA.
The project is part of the efforts of Governor Otti to upgrade the long-abandoned Umunnato General Hospital into a tertiary healthcare facility, with a 100-bed ward, theatres, accident and emergency units, general outpatient departments, maternity wards, dental units and radiology departments.
Performing the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, 28th May, 2026, as part of activities marking his third anniversary in office, Governor Otti said that he decided to demolish and rebuild the old and dilapidated facility to get the desired quality.
The Governor instructed the contractor to comply strictly with the specifications and deliver within one year. He constituted a four-man supervisory team comprising the member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma; House of Representatives hopeful for Bende Federal Constituency, Dr Chima Anyaso; and the Deputy Mayor of Bende LGA, Lady Ifeoma Agu.
“We found that it was cheaper to do that (demolish & build a new one) than to try and fix something that you probably wouldn’t even get exactly what you require. Anywhere we flag off a project, it means it will be commissioned, and it will be commissioned in record time.
The Governor expressed optimism that the hospital would be ready for commissioning during activities marking his administration’s fourth anniversary and inauguration of his second term in office.
“So, the contractor is here, and I would like to give the contractor a target.
“So, in the next one year as we will be celebrating our fourth anniversary and preparing for the next inauguration, we shall be commissioning this project,” Gov. Otti stated.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, noted that the establishment of the specialist hospital was in fulfilment of the Governor’s promise that each senatorial zone in the State would have a tertiary healthcare facility to serve as a referral centre for specialised medical care.
He said that when the Governor took over office, he made it a point of priority that “every senatorial district or senatorial zone in Abia State must have a tertiary hospital to serve as the pinnacle referral centre for that senatorial zone.
“And that is to bring specialised care to the doorstep of Abians so that nobody is left behind”, Prof Uche stated.
The Commissioner noted that the abandoned hospital was established in 1962 and had deteriorated for decades.
“This hospital was initially established in 1962. At that time, it was serving the whole of Abia North. Unfortunately, for 40 years, it has been abandoned,” Prof. Uche stated.
He said that Abia State University Teaching Hospital serves Abia South Senatorial zone, the Amachara Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre caters for Abia Central, while the Umunnato facility would serve the Abia North.
Prof. Uche informed the mammoth crowd that consultants working towards securing the Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, which is regarded globally as one of the highest standards in hospital accreditation, had already commenced work in line with the directive of the Governor.
The Governor later commissioned two Primary Healthcare Centres, including the Umuisi Primary Healthcare facility and the Okafia Primary Healthcare facility, all in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area.
Many dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, members of the National and State Assembly, Commissioners and many stakeholders.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
May 28th, 2026.
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