International Investors Jostle For Ekiti $3.5 Million Diagnostic Centre

R-L; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Commissioner for Health, Prof. Shola Fasuba; Special Adviser on Public Private Partnership, Mr. Segun Ologunleko; during the pre-meeting for the bidding process of the construction of a $ 3.5 million Standard diagnostic Centre in Ekiti State.

No fewer than 12 national and international investors have arrived Ekiti State to participate in the bidding process for the construction of a $3.5 million standard diagnostic centre being proposed by the state government to further improve healthcare service delivery in the State.

The diagnostic centre which will also help the Funmi Olayinka diagnostic centre perform optimally is to be put in place on Public-Private Partnership arrangement

Receiving the investors many of whom are from the United Kingdom and South Africa among others in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Governor Kayode Fayemi said the gesture is aimed at improving on the quality of healthcare services in the state as well as enable people who need diagnostic services have access to it.

The Governor stressed that it is the vision of his administration to establish a referral place that will be a reference in the country hence the opening of the bidding process which has brought in the investors who are leading players in providing medical equipment.

While reiterating the commitment of his administration to ensuring a very transparent bidding process, Dr Fayemi stated that Ekiti is the first state to domesticate the freedom of information law because of the administration’s resolve for accountability and transparency.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Private Partnership, Mr Segun Ologunleko explained that it is necessary to have a good diagnostic centre for radiology, imaging and other laboratory services because many competent medical practitioners in the country are handicapped for lack of diagnostic facility and this has hindered them in becoming the best they should be.

Ologunleko added that this informed of government’s decision to establish the centre through the PPP arrangement and provide a high quality, reliable, efficient and sustainable healthcare delivery system in the State.

He stated that government had advertised the various processes for the bidding last year and this year with a World Bank group, International Finance Corporation, serving as government’s transaction advisor and enable the investors have confidence in the process since it involves investors from the international communities.

He disclosed that government is looking forward to a successful process that will culminate in the emergence of an investor who can fund the project to the tune of $3.5 million.

Ologunleko also assured Ekiti people that the project is in their interest as the project would be put in place on build, operate, maintain, finance and transfer agreement and after certain number of years, the government would take full ownership of the project which will help the free health programme of the Fayemi-led administration.

The Principal Operation Officer in charge of the PPP transaction Advisory services of IFC, Mr Bayo Oyewole had earlier stated that the calibre of investors which have come to the state shows that the Ekiti state is indeed a destination of choice for investment.

He assured that the bidding process will be carried out transparently even as the bidders hold their conference at the State University Teaching Hospital Ado Ekiti.

Last modified: January 29, 2014