By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) says it is partnering with African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo stated this while reading the communiqué issued after the forum’s meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
Uzodinma said that the forum received a presentation from AMCE on an initiative funded by Afriximbank Bank, with the delegation led by former Vice-President Nnamadi Sambo.
“The forum received a presentation from AMCE, a specialised 500-bed hospital designed to deliver high-quality diagnostics and treatment across oncology, cardiovascular and hematological care, alongside comprehensive general medical and surgical services.
“Recognising the AMCE’s role in advancing Nigeria’s healthcare capacity, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to fostering partnerships that support the development of such specialised facilities, aiming to improve health outcomes and accessibility for all Nigerians.
“The governors are committed to supporting Afrixim Bank for this initiative.
“The bank is going to work with King’s College Hospital, London, and it’s going to be a referral centre of excellence for all medical challenges,’’ Uzodinma said.
He said that NGF also received the presentation from Mallam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), on the fuel subsidy removal and the challenges facing the corporation.
Uzodinma said that Kyari briefed the governors on his plans to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians, occasioned by the increase in fuel pump price.
“We saw with him, and also interpreted some of the presentations he made. It is our hope that things are going to be better any moment from now.
“We sympathised with our people. We know that there is hardship in the country. We also appreciate the reforms being carried out by the president.
“Our prayer is that as soon as possible, the relief we are looking for should come so that we can begin to leverage the benefits of the reforms,’’ he said.
Uzodinma also stressed the need for encouraging home-grown solutions to the challenges facing Nigeria’s oil sector, especially in achieving local production of petroleum products in the country.
“We must encourage the home-grown solution that President Bola Tinubu has just introduced.
“We should encourage Dangote Refinery; we should repair our Port Harcourt Refinery, repair our Warri Refinery, repair our Kaduna Refinery, and then produce what we eat, and eat what we produce.
“We shouldn’t rely on importation of crude oil. For me, it is an aberration to rely on importation of petroleum products, as an oil producing country,’’ he said.
The governor said that forum also received a brief from the Director-General of Department of Security Services (DSS) on new strategies to address the security challenge in the country.
He also expressed the forum’s support to the DSS director-general, describing it as proper and a better synergy, working at the sub-national to ensure that Nigeria was safe and secure.
Uzodinma disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser had appointed a director to liaise with state governments to enhance closer relationships.
He said that the director presented her plans to the governors.
The governor expressed the forum’s support to President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that the interests of Nigerians were adequately protected. (NAN)
