Abia Embarks on $1.3 Billion Health Project

Abia State has officially set the wheels in motion to establish a state-of-the-art medical complex designed to address advanced healthcare needs locally, reducing the dependence on foreign medical treatment.

Over the weekend, the administration disclosed a collaborative venture with MKP International Holdings—an acclaimed global consortium in engineering and construction—to construct what will become Nigeria’s pioneering quaternary healthcare facility.

While showing reporters around the expansive 200-hectare project site at Mbasaa, close to Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, the State’s Health Commissioner, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, made the announcement.

He noted that “MKP would finance, develop, build, operate and transfer” the mega facility, with a capital investment totaling $1.3 billion from the private partner.

The Commissioner emphasized that Abia State’s contribution mainly involved the allocation of land, security arrangements, and overall support for the initiative.

“This Medical City is the first quaternary hospital in this country that would take care of all levels of complicated healthcare issues,”

Uche added that it would be remembered as “one of the landmark projects” of Governor Alex Otti’s tenure.

He stressed that this initiative is aimed not only at halting medical tourism but also at establishing Abia as a go-to location for specialized healthcare in the region.

The vast site, stretching across seven communities within Isiala Ngwa North and South, was made available through community collaboration.

Uche pointed out that MKP’s willingness to drive the development came “owing to the transparent record and, of course, the relentless visionary strides of (Governor Otti)”.

According to the Commissioner, “The company already wishes to start construction even before the flag off. So, everything is ready and you can see the, very nice landscape,”

He revealed that the rationale behind this medical hub stemmed from the financial burden of seeking treatment abroad, which prompted the governor to imagine a solution rooted in local capacity.

“It is estimated that about 1.6 billion Dollars, which many of us think is too conservative, is the amount of money that is lost from this country every year owing to medical tourism.”

With this in mind, he said the governor was driven to establish the country’s first fully integrated healthcare zone—“and that is the Abia Medical City”.

Addressing the scale of the upcoming complex, Uche revealed it would consist of a 1,000-bed medical facility with ultra-modern infrastructure to serve wide-ranging healthcare needs.

He elaborated: “Apart from the ultra-modern medical facility, there also going to have a tourist city. The medical step-down hotel there will be a five-star hotel, and there will be another five-star tourist hotel.”

The complex is also set to include a specialized oncology unit, recognizing the high demand for advanced cancer care services abroad.

“You’re also going to have an ultra-modern oncology centre. As you may well know, cancer care is one of the reasons people leave this country for care abroad.”

The facility will be equipped for radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and advanced cancer treatments using international-standard practices and personnel from across the globe. It will also contain specialized surgical units for procedures such as robotic and laparoscopic surgeries.

“It will also take care of all forms of brain, spine, orthopedic, organ transplantation, cardiac transplant, cardiac surgeries, name it, any level of surgery. There will also be a place for cosmetic surgery.”

Additional structures will house services such as “an ultramodern children’s hospital, a fertility centre, ophthalmology centre, organ transplantation, diagnostic centre, a hub for digital health technologies, among others.”

The Commissioner added that global-standard research institutions would be established as part of the ecosystem, with academic affiliations linking them to some of the most prestigious hospitals and universities worldwide.