Enugu, NSIA sign agreement on take over of diagnostic centre 

The Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led Enugu State government has signed an agreement with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) for the federal agency to take over the state-of-the-art Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre.

The agreement is to pave way for NSIA to provide comprehensive medical, diagnostic and oncology (cancer) treatment services to the people of the state and beyond.  

Recall that the Ugwuanyi administration, following approval of the State Executive Council (EXCO), recently reached an agreement with NSIA for the upgrade of the Medical Diagnostic Centre in Enugu, built by the state government. 

The agreement to take over the health facility was reached after series of negotiations between the state government and the agency. 

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, signed the agreement on behalf of the state government while the Managing Director of NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, signed on behalf of the agency during the ceremony held at the Kano Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Miletus Eze, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Enugu, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Obi, witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Consequently, the Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre will now be known as Medical Diagnostic and Oncology (Cancer) Treatment Centre.

Speaking during the event, the Managing Director of NSIA disclosed that the agency signed lease and collaboration agreements for the expansion of diagnostic services with three state governments (Enugu, Kwara and Kaduna) and five federal establishments, including oncology (cancer) treatment services with Enugu. 

Orji stated that the three state governments that participated in the exercise (Enugu, Kwara and Kaduna) had fast-tracked action on negotiations with the agency and have reached the stage of signing agreements. 

He revealed that funds will be deployed to build, equip, maintain and operate modern health facilities across the country, adding that “these investments are expected to build new or upgrade institutions to modern medical diagnostic centres and provide access to advanced healthcare services for the benefit of lower income families with limited access to care, as well as significantly enhance Nigeria’s ability to treat life threatening Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).” 

In her remarks, Ezeilo thanked NSIA for the opportunity given to Enugu to benefit from the healthcare expansion initiative.

She pointed out that the initiative is in compliance with the state government’s vision and commitment to quality healthcare service delivery for the people of the state and beyond.