Nigerian Army Commissions Upgraded Healthcare Facility In Ogun
The Acting Chief of Army Staff (Ag COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, commissioned a renovated and upgraded Primary Healthcare Centre along with staff quarters in Olugbo, Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State. The project, executed under the COAS Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Initiative, was inaugurated by Major General Adekunle Adeyinka, the Commander, Corps of Supply and Transport (CCST) and a prominent native of the community. This initiative underscores the Nigerian Army’s (NA) commitment to enhancing civil-military relations, improving healthcare access, and promoting community development.
Representing the Ag COAS at the event, Major General Baba Yahaya, Commander, Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, emphasized the importance of the Special Intervention Projects as a non-kinetic strategy for addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges. He highlighted the NA’s efforts in driving infrastructure development in communities nationwide, particularly those linked to senior officers at the rank of Major General.
In his address, Major General Adekunle Adeyinka extended his gratitude to the Ag COAS and acknowledged the support of key stakeholders, including the Ogun State Government, local authorities, and community members. He underscored the project’s significance in alleviating healthcare challenges, particularly for pregnant women and children who previously traveled long distances for medical services. To ensure sustainability, the facility has been integrated into the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme, and a scholarship program has been initiated to train locals at the Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences.
The CCST Commander detailed the facility’s key upgrades, which include comprehensive remodeling, state-of-the-art medical equipment, a solar-powered borehole with a reticulation system, and a solar inverter for uninterrupted power supply. The healthcare center is designed to serve over 62 communities and more than 8,000 residents, with a focus on rural healthcare delivery. Major General Adeyinka urged the Ogun State Ministry of Health to deploy additional staff to maximize the facility’s potential.
The event was attended by several senior military officers, including Major General Nosa Ugbo (Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Army), Major General EF Oyinlola (Military Secretary, Army), Major General IM Jallo (Director, Directorate of Inspection and Compliance), Air Vice Marshal BR Mamman (Commandant, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre), and Major General FU Mijinyawa (General Officer Commanding 81 Division).
Dignitaries present included the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Oludaisi Elemide, and Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Mrs Tomi Coker, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Hospital Management Board. The Executive Chairman of Odeda Local Government, Honourable (Dr) Folashade Adeyemo, alongside royal representatives, including the Alake of Egbaland, added prestige to the event.
