Gov. Okorocha hands over Imo hospitals to churches, security agencies

BY: Sandra Ani

The Imo State Government, on Monday, handed over state-owned general hospitals to some security agencies, the Anglican and The Lord’s Chosen churches to be operated under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative of the state government.

The event took place at the Imo Government House, Owerri, with the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding with the beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Rochas Okorocha said the initiative was part of the efforts at expanding the scope of government.

Okorocha said that history had shown that the private sector was better equipped to run establishments than the government.

He urged the beneficiaries to respect the terms of the MOU and hand the facilities back to the government at the expiration of the lease period.

The governor said that the hospitals had not been sold to them.

He directed that the beneficiaries of the facilities should pay N100,000 every month to the state government, while government would be entitled to 10 per cent stake.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three hospitals were leased to the Anglican Church for a period of five years, with an 18-month moratorium, while the Claretian and Lord’s Chosen Universities secured 99-year leases, also with an 18-month moratorium each.

NAN reports that benefiting security agencies included the Nigerian Army (Owerri West General Hospital), Nigerian Navy (Ngor Okpala Hospital), Nigerian Airforce (Owerri North General Hospital) and Police (Ideator South General Hospital). (NAN)