By Peter Emmanuel |
The Lagos State Government has intensified monitoring of major healthcare infrastructure projects as the 280-bed Ojo General Hospital reaches 85 per cent completion, while construction of a new 180-bed specialist hospital in Somolu progresses.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during an inspection of the two projects, saying the Ojo facility was expected to be ready for commissioning by the end of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.
At Somolu, the government is constructing a new seven-floor, 180-bed hospital on the former Somolu Local Government headquarters site.
Abayomi said the new facility was designed to address the growing healthcare needs of residents in the area and would eventually replace the existing 60-bed Somolu General Hospital.
The inspection was part of the government’s efforts to ensure that the projects are completed according to required standards and equipped to provide improved healthcare services to residents.
Ojo Hospital Targets Q1 2027 Commissioning
Abayomi said the Ojo General Hospital had entered the finishing stage, with high-tech medical equipment and furniture already ordered for the facility.
He said the government was addressing outstanding areas of concern as the project moved towards completion, adding that inspection visits would become more frequent to ensure that the contractor delivers the project to the required standard.
“We are at the point where we’re doing the finishing touches. We’ve ordered the high-tech equipment. We’ve ordered the furniture,” the Commissioner said.
He explained that the facility was currently about 85 per cent complete and could be commissioned by the end of 2026 or in the first quarter of 2027.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Dr Adekunle Olayinka, confirmed the reported level of completion and said quality assurance teams had identified minor areas requiring correction by the contractor.
Somolu Hospital to Expand Specialist Healthcare
The new Somolu hospital is currently about 15 per cent complete and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027.
Abayomi said the government opted to build a new hospital instead of expanding the existing facility because of its large catchment population and the limitations of the current 60-bed hospital.
He said the existing Somolu General Hospital would continue providing clinical services throughout the construction period to avoid disrupting healthcare delivery to residents.
The new facility will serve as a specialist centre for head and neck-related medical services, with Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Ear, Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology and Dentistry among the services planned for the hospital.
The Commissioner said the hospital would also provide core services in Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology as part of the state’s plan to develop designated areas of specialist care across its general hospitals.
New Facility Designed for Modern, Sustainable Care
Abayomi said the new hospital projects were being designed with modern infrastructure and technologies aimed at improving patient care, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
He said the designs incorporate renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, water catchment systems, sewage management and improved movement of patients and staff.
The facilities are also expected to incorporate stronger infection prevention and control measures to create safer environments for patients, healthcare workers and visitors.
Olayinka said the solar installation at the Ojo hospital met the required specifications and would provide an alternative power source when the facility becomes operational.
He added that the Somolu project, which initially faced some challenges, was now progressing after the identified issues were resolved.
Lagos Targets End to Outbound Medical Tourism
Abayomi said the development of specialist centres across Lagos was part of the state’s long-term plan to expand access to advanced medical care and reduce the need for residents to seek treatment outside the country.
He said the government hoped that, over the next five to 10 years, Lagos would have the capacity to provide a wider range of medical interventions in both the public and private sectors.
“Over the next five to ten years, we believe that every kind of medical intervention will be available in Lagos in both the public and the private sector, so that outbound medical tourism will stop, and in fact, it will reverse,” he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that about 107,000 registered patients currently access services at the existing Somolu facility, while its wider catchment population is estimated at between five and 10 million people.
He said the scale of demand reinforced the need for a larger and more modern facility capable of providing specialised healthcare services to residents.
The government said the infrastructure investments, alongside healthcare financing reforms, compulsory health insurance and the proposed University of Medicine and Health Sciences, would strengthen Lagos’ healthcare system and position the state as a destination for specialised medical care.
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