In what can be described as a mark of patriotism and a sense of national fulfilment, the Permanent Secretary of State House, Tijjani Umar, at the weekend in Abuja, led a team of presidential aides on a pre-handover inspection of the Presidential Wing of the State House Medical Centre.
The newly constructed Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic is considered one of the major legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
The foundation laying ceremony for the hospital project was performed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
The State House Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, said that the completion of the hospital on record time is a miracle and comes off as one of the President’s iconic legacies for the country.
The President had in November 2021 approved a site for the construction of a VIP wing of the State House Clinic within the precinct of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The project is a Specialised/Intensive Care Centre dedicated to the exclusive use of the President, Vice President and other VIPs. It contains Executive Suites, VIP Suites, Emergency Rooms, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Operating Theatres, and Conference Room for emergency meetings, among others.
The Permanent Secretary was accompanied on the inspection by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs, Sarki Abba; and the Chief Personal Physician to the President, Dr Sanusi Rafindadi.
On his impression of the Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic, the Chief Physician to the President described it as ‘‘world-class and state-of-the-art,’’ with the capability to carry out several medical procedures.
Rafindadi expressed his satisfaction with the state of the project and commended the State House management team, led by Tijjani Umar, for tirelessly working on the signature project.
The visit provided an opportunity to assess what has been achieved and also afforded the officials an excellent opportunity to make observations ahead of completing the project.
‘‘We are doing this to know what is on the ground and to get ready for the official commissioning of the project when Mr President approves,’’ the permanent secretary said, stressing that progress has been made in the process of completing the hospital.
And, truly, progress has been made if considered, especially, against the backdrop that the hospital is billed to be one of the best in West Africa and, for too long, money was taken out of Nigeria for medical reasons which, otherwise, would have been spent in the country.
The success story of the Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic is extremely pleasing because the country’s and, indeed, Africa’s public health systems are in a depressing condition. Preventable diseases still kill a large number of women and children, people travel long distances to receive healthcare and across the continent patients sleep on hospital floors. On top of this, Africa’s health professionals emigrate in droves to search for greener pastures.
It is, therefore, not surprising that people from Africa travel abroad, mainly to Europe, North America and Asia, for their medical needs. Africans spend billions of United States Dollars (USD) on outbound treatment annually. Nigeria is a major contributor. Its citizens spend over $1 billion annually on what is known as medical tourism.
It can be argued that private citizens opting to seek medical help in other countries don’t owe the public any explanation, because it’s their affair. But medical tourism among Africa’s political elite is a completely different kettle of fish and a big cause for concern because they are responsible for the development of proper healthcare for the citizens of their countries.
Presidents and political leaders across the continent go abroad for medical treatment. The reasons for exercising this choice are obvious: they lack confidence in the health systems they oversee and they can afford the trips given that the expenses are paid for by taxpayers.
Of course, the picture painted above is shameful. As long as Africa’s leaders keep going abroad for medical reasons, the ambition for better health infrastructure will remain an illusion.
It’s estimated that in Africa, the funds spent to treat top government officials abroad every year could build 10 hospitals in every country.
The failure of leaders to improve healthcare and stem brain drain also carries a heavy price.
On top of this, African hospitals that were previously world-class have been reduced to symbolic edifices due to political negligence.
Essentially, when people charged with responsibility feel they do not need public health systems because they can afford private healthcare at home or abroad, ordinary citizens bear the brunt.
It is, especially, against this nauseating fact that the efforts of President Buhari to end the culture of government officials seeking medication abroad should be appreciated.
Of course, few people know the hard work put in by the Permanent Secretary to reposition the State House Clinic for effective service delivery to meet the President’s expectations. He expanded the building and renovated some crucial departments such as the eye and physiotherapy departments and completed new buildings.
The dental wing building in the State House Clinic, which was abandoned since 2013, has been completed and, under Tijjani Umar’s watch, at the State House Clinic, training programmes are available across the board for both medical and non-medical staff to equip staff the challenges ahead.
Through the support of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has established a molecular testing laboratory at the State House Clinic.
The Presidential (VIP) Wing of the State House Clinic will be commissioned soon and the project is expected to give medical attention to the First Family, African leaders and other dignitaries.
Recently, owing to Tijjani Umar’s sterling qualities and administrative competencies, effectiveness and efficiency, President Buhari commended the Permanent Secretary for his professionalism and appreciated his efforts, sacrifices and dedication to ensuring effective management of the State House.
The President said Tijjani Umar’s foresight and insight have made a whole difference, particularly in the process of ensuring that the State House Clinic is, finally, set to realise its mission.
APC and campaign promises to Nigerians
Known as a man with few and his words, almost eight years ago, Muhammadu Buhari took the oath of office as President with a promise to serve Nigeria faithfully in all spheres of national life.
He concluded the first four years, and Nigerians in a show of confidence massively renewed his term for another four years that will come to an end this year – 2023.
This week, the President in Okene, Kogi State, said his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), invariably, the government he leads, has delivered on the promises made to Nigerians.
Speaking at the Palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, which he commissioned as part of his one-day State Visit to the state, the President also said that Governor Yahaya Bello had performed creditably in his two terms as governor.
“We are an administration that prides ourselves in the fulfilment of our electoral promises to the Nigerian people, at both national and sub-national levels,” the President said.
“This is why I am glad that we have an impressive array of legacy projects through your own state government as proof of our stewardship of Kogi State. The APC administration has indelible footprints in Kogi State. Among the many projects executed by the Federal Government are; the Itakpe to Okene bypass, the Obajana to Kabba concrete road built by Dangote Industries Limited under our ‘roads for taxes initiate’ (Executive Order 7) and the Itakpe to Warri railway service, among others. I am very pleased to be here today to commission several projects executed by the administration of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello.”
The President said that the federal government has resolved legal entanglements that held progress of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, adding that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex holds the key to unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria.
In a nutshell, has the President lived up to his promises to Nigerians? Under the Buhari presidency, even if economic difficulties are being experienced, people are happy that the sufferings are temporary because they have a president who has the interest of the country at heart. And that is important because patriotic leaders are not known for taking shortcuts in solving national problems. They take the long and painful way with the belief that life would become more meaningful for the populace and that the country will, in the end, achieve its true independence.
