Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has directed the recruitment of additional health workers and approved the rehabilitation and upgrade of 14 health centres across the territory to strengthen healthcare delivery for residents.
Wike disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the handover of 12 newly acquired ambulances to hospitals in the FCT, an initiative aimed at improving emergency response services within the territory’s health system and reducing avoidable delays in patient care.
He said the FCT Administration had commenced the procurement of equipment for the rehabilitation and furnishing of the health centres, adding that the FCT Head of Civil Service and other relevant authorities had been instructed to recruit more personnel to boost service delivery in the sector.
According to the minister, the interventions reflect the administration’s commitment to developing critical sectors beyond road infrastructure and education, with healthcare remaining a key priority for the current leadership of the territory.
“Many people ask why we focus so much on road infrastructure and education,” Wike said. “What they often forget is that emergency ambulances cannot function effectively without good roads.
“When patients place distress calls and the roads are bad, the entire purpose of emergency services is defeated.
“That is why we believe in getting the basics right first, and that is exactly what we are doing,” he added.
Wike assured residents that the FCT Administration would continue to take deliberate steps to ensure access to quality healthcare services across urban and rural communities. “For us, we will do everything possible to ensure that our people receive the best services,” he said.
Earlier, Olalodipo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, described the procurement and distribution of the ambulances as a major milestone in strengthening emergency healthcare delivery in the FCT.
According to her, the initiative goes beyond the provision of ambulances and reflects the administration’s commitment to people-centred governance, emergency preparedness and improved health outcomes for residents of the territory.
Fasawe noted that strategic investments in road infrastructure under Wike’s leadership had significantly improved access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities that previously struggled with long travel times.
“In areas such as Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada, the construction of the A2–Pai road has reduced travel time from about one and a half hours to just 30 minutes, making it much easier for residents to access healthcare facilities,” she said.
She added that the FCT Administration had demonstrated a holistic understanding of healthcare systems, noting that effective healthcare goes beyond infrastructure to include immunisation, health insurance and human resources.
Fasawe commended the administration for clearing outstanding allowances owed to healthcare workers since 2021, including the 13-month hazard allowance, wage awards and the medical residency training fund.
“I can confidently say that the FCT is the only state that has paid all these allowances up to date,” she said.
She also highlighted other interventions, including the upgrade of the FCT School of Nursing to a full-fledged College of Nursing, noting that the measures reflect a deliberate and coordinated effort to deliver accessible, high-quality and responsible healthcare services to residents of the territory.
