The Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja has received a vital medical upgrade with the donation and installation of a multi-slice CT Scan machine by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), marking a significant milestone in emergency healthcare delivery for Kogi State and surrounding areas.
The machine, delivered alongside a backup generator and advanced imaging suite accessories, is expected to substantially reduce mortality rates from trauma and other life-threatening conditions needing immediate radiological investigation.
Situated along major highway corridors connecting the North and South of Nigeria, the hospital is the only operational federal tertiary health facility serving thousands of accident victims and critically ill patients daily.
Prior to this intervention, patients needing CT scans had to endure long-distance transfers to Abuja, often a two-and-a-half-hour drive—leading to the loss of lives due to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
For years, the hospital had struggled to acquire a CT Scan machine due to limited budget allocations and unsuccessful attempts at public-private partnerships. The completed CT suite, built to international standards, remained unused until NLNG provided the essential equipment.
The facilitation of this donation was made possible through the efforts of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during her tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
Inspecting the installation in Lokoja last Sunday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan commended NLNG for the donation, adding that the intervention would help to address the increasing health needs of the people of Kogi State and beyond.
With the new machine fully installed, the hospital’s team of five radiologists and five radiographers, one of whom received advanced training in India, are now prepared to deliver high-quality diagnostic services. The hospital management has also established a revolving fund for sustainability and committed to ongoing personnel training and equipment maintenance to prevent downtime.
Chief Medical Director, Dr. Olatunde Alabi described the donation as a long-awaited intervention that will transform patient outcomes.
“This is a game-changer for the hospital, for the state, and for the country. We can now respond swiftly to emergencies, improve patient care, support research, and enhance the training of medical personnel,” he said.
Dr Patricia also expressed appreciation to NLNG for the kind gesture. “In just two weeks, almost every department has benefited from the CT Scan. Before now, we referred patients to Abuja or Ilorin, and sadly, some died during transit. Your efforts have saved lives,” she added.
Regarding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s role in facilitating the project, Dr Patricia said, “The Creator of the lives you have touched will continue to protect you. We will always count on your support,” she concluded.
The installation was made possible through a partnership between NLNG and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board under the federal government’s human capital development and institutional strengthening programme.
