The Abia State Government has announced plans to build a world-class medical city in the Owerrinta area of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area. The goal is to reduce the number of Nigerians travelling abroad for medical treatment, which currently costs the country over $2 billion every year.
According to the State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, the planned Abia Medical City could attract up to 10% of that amount, about $200 million annually, by providing similar quality care within Nigeria. Speaking during a tour of the proposed site, Professor Uche stated that the new medical city will be a 1,000-bed, ultra-modern facility built on 200 hectares of land. Upon completion, it is expected to rival top hospitals in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and other advanced regions. The entire project is estimated to cost $1.3 billion, which will be fully funded by an internationally recognised private medical investment firm. The state government’s role will be to provide the land and general support.
Professor Uche credited Governor Alex Otti’s reputation and leadership for attracting international interest in the project. He revealed that several top universities and medical institutions worldwide have already expressed interest in partnering with Abia Medical City. The facility will include an oncology centre, a modern surgical unit, a high-tech children’s hospital, a digital medical hub, and a research institute linked to leading hospitals and universities worldwide. In addition to its medical services, the project will feature a medical tourism zone, a step-down hotel, and a five-star hotel to accommodate visiting patients and tourists. The commissioner said this ecosystem is designed to promote healthy living and establish Abia as a central hub for medical excellence in West Africa.
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