A story from Premium Times tells of a Hospital still under construction since awarded more than 10 years ago.
The people of Gwarinpa, a remote town in Abuja were in need of an advanced medical facility since the general hospital in Lifecamp Gwarinpa could no longer contain, or rather, satisfy the medical demands of the people.
Often, the people of Gwarinpa had to travel some distance to a neighboring community for health needs, because the one at Lifecamp was becoming ineffective, as one resident tells; that one could wait for 5 hours before getting antenatal care done, and the staff always closing very early.
It was in 2012, during the administration of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan that the contract was awarded for a 220-bed capacity Medical center to be constructed in Gwarinpa to service the health needs of its people and other neighboring communities.
However, since 2013 till today in 2024, the Hospital is still not ready.
One Kabiru Muhammad confirmed that it was in October 2023 that people were last seen working in the construction site.
According to information gotten from the then Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, ₦3.8 billion Naira was awarded for the construction of the Hospital in 2013 after it was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The contract was awarded to Mabelt Construction Co. Limited, a company owned by Aseminaso Nyingierefaka, who is said to be a brother to Nigeria’s former first lady Patience Jonathan.
It is also alleged that Mabelt Construction is one of the companies that was used by the former first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan to secure government contracts, according to sources at the anti-graft agency, EFCC.
Was the then President aware of this?
Recall that Patience Jonathan had once been probed by the EFCC in 2019 over a ₦12.2 billion fraud of which $8.4 million and $9.4 million were later confiscated from her as per court order.
Udeme, the Premium Times correspondent’s efforts to get in touch with the company has been frutiless.
A worker on the site who could only allow some information, told the Premium Times correspondent that there were several issues with the project. Issues such as settling indigenes, issue of redesigning which took almost three years, payment delays, issues with reviewing the cost of the project and the price of materials and equipment which has been on the rise since 2013.
When asked about the financial details of the project, the worker said his superiors have all the details, but refused to provide contact information of his superiors.
He also claimed that the phase 1 of the project is 80 percent complete.
Residents of Gwarinpa lamented of their dilemma in getting medical attention.
One said: “When we have sick people in the community, we take them elsewhere. We have since lost hope in the hospital. It seems like a mission impossible.”
Another resident identified as Salamatu Abubakar told the Premium Times correspondent that they often go to the Gwarinpa General Hospital in Lifecamp for antenatal care, but one can spend up to 5 hours before getting it done.
Saying that the staff usually close early, and because of that, a neighbour of hers had to be rushed to a private hospital for her delivery, where her husband could barely afford the medical fees charged.
“Sometimes, the nurses and health practitioners in the neighbourhood come together to help with child delivery,” she said.
PS: The investigation was carried out by Udeme for Premium Times.
