The Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s decision to assume direct control of primary healthcare services from local government councils, citing the move as a vital necessity for the well-being of the citizenry.
Speaking on Tuesday at the grand inauguration of the Ahoada Zonal Hospital—a state-of-the-art secondary healthcare facility designed to serve the Rivers West Senatorial District—Governor Fubara noted that the centralisation of healthcare management was already yielding “positive and desired results.”
The Governor recalled that the health of the populace had previously suffered under the fragmented oversight of local councils. By elevating these responsibilities to the state level, his administration has sought to standardise care and ensure the equitable distribution of medical resources.
“What we are doing here is providing essential support to the local government, as some of these responsibilities are primarily theirs,” the Governor explained. “Primary healthcare was left with the Local Government Areas, and we suffered a great deal. We determined that to achieve meaningful results, these responsibilities needed to be reassumed by the State. I am gratified to see that this intervention is bearing fruit.”
The Ahoada Zonal Hospital is a cornerstone of a broader infrastructure mandate. The Governor disclosed that while the Ahoada and Bori facilities are now operational, similar projects in Degema and Etche are slated for completion and commissioning before the end of March 2026.
“No matter the extent of one’s wealth, good health is the prerequisite for its enjoyment,” Governor Fubara remarked. “The well-being of our people is the paramount priority of this government. We did not err in embarking upon these complex projects; they are essential for the survival of our businesses and the longevity of our people.”
The new facility is expected to serve as a critical medical hub for residents of Ahoada, Abua, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni, and Emohua, reducing the need for long-distance travel to the Port Harcourt metropolis for specialist care.
Beyond the immediate benefits of the medical facility, Governor Fubara used the occasion to call for political cohesion. He expressed profound gratitude to the people of the Ekpeye Kingdom for their unwavering loyalty “in the face of adversity,” acknowledging the sacrifices made by his supporters.
In a notable gesture of inter-governmental cooperation, the Governor urged stakeholders in the Orashi region to align with the federal administration. He called for early grassroots mobilisation to ensure a seamless electoral path for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State come 2027.
“Our responsibility is to make 2027 easier for the President,” the Governor stated. “By demonstrating that this government is responsible and concerned for the people’s welfare, we provide them with every reason to listen to our counsel and support the national vision.”
The ceremony concluded with the Governor pledging that all ongoing projects in the Ahoada axis would be brought to fruition, alongside the initiation of new developments as requested by the local community.
