NIGERIA – Ondo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Germany-based organisation, Medicus International, to build a Sunshine Medical City in Akure, valued at $1.1bn.
Ondo State’s governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said that the deal was in fulfilment of his commitment to improve the health sector and facilitate modern healthcare in the state.
Akeredolu who said during the signing of the deal in Abuja added that the facility would reduce the state of medical tourism in the country.
The MoU was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde while the Chief Executive Officer of Medicus International, Frank Spriewald, signed on behalf of the company.
The governor added that he was convinced that Medicus International had good intention to develop the medical infrastructure in Ondo State.
He said, “I am more than convinced that Medicus (International) has good intention,” noting that he was in Germany where he saw their structure.
“When I was in Berlin, I was talking to another medical organisation to bring their facility to Ondo State. I was negotiating with them not knowing that someone else is already waiting for this,” commented Akeredolu.
The governor also announced that the state government had set up a five-man team led by his special adviser on health to facilitate the project and work with the Medicus International.
The facilitator for Medicus International, Chief Oludare Bello, said the time for the execution of the project would be 36 months.
Chief Bello said the hospital would deal with all facets of healthcare, adding that the nearness to the airport became imperative because the hospital would have its own helicopter to transverse other parts of the state for medical purposes.
Bello further explained that there would be other facilities in the hospital such as a conference centre, cinema, teaching hospital and a nursing school.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye, said Medicus International was charged with the responsibility of looking for funds for project.
According to him, the state government is only investing 100 hectares of land and creating an enabling environment as well as providing political goodwill for establishment of the hospital.
