Rivers Gov Fubara Inaugurates 105-Bed Ahoada Zonal Hospital

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has inaugurated the newly remodeled Ahoada Zonal Hospital, bringing to an end years of abandonment and restoring a critical healthcare facility that had been neglected across three successive administrations.

The hospital, now rebuilt into a 21st-century ultramodern medical centre, is designed to deliver quality secondary healthcare services to rural and semi-urban communities across the Rivers West Senatorial District.

With a 105-bed capacity, the facility was significantly expanded beyond its original scope to accommodate specialised units such as surgery, radiology, intensive care and modern diagnostic services. The upgrade positions the hospital as a major referral centre serving residents of Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Emohua Local Government Areas.

Located in Ahoada Town, the hospital is expected to ease pressure on overstretched tertiary institutions, including the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, by providing advanced medical care closer to the people.
Speaking during the commissioning, Governor Fubara expressed deep emotion as he reflected on the hospital’s long history of abandonment, describing it as a difficult inheritance his administration deliberately chose to confront.

“This afternoon, we are here again to do one of the unusual things. I was really touched and emotional when the contractor took us down memory lane. This was not just a project we inherited; it was one my predecessor also inherited,” the governor said.

He explained that the Ahoada Zonal Hospital is part of a broader network of zonal healthcare facilities being developed across the state to bridge the gap between primary healthcare centres at the grassroots and distant teaching hospitals.

According to the governor, investments in infrastructure such as roads and housing would have little meaning without a healthy population to utilise and sustain them.

“I believe that instead of everyone running to BMH, once you cannot immediately access the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, the closest option should be here. Your health is important to us, and no matter how much wealth you have, you need good health to enjoy it,” he stated.

Governor Fubara reiterated that good health remains the foundation for productivity, prosperity and social stability, stressing that the well-being of Rivers people is the top priority of his administration.

He disclosed that the state’s healthcare expansion programme is progressing steadily, noting that the Bori Zonal Hospital is already operational. He assured that the remaining zonal hospitals in Degema and Omoku would be completed and commissioned before the end of March 2026.

Commending the Ministry of Health, the governor praised the hospital’s wellness-focused architectural design and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing affordable and accessible healthcare at the local level.

“What we have done here today is to reaffirm that the well-being of our people is the top priority of this government. Our duty goes beyond roads and housing; even those who live in these houses must have access to quality healthcare,” he added.

Responding to requests from the host community, Governor Fubara confirmed that work is ongoing on the Port Harcourt Road, including the construction of a bridge, with an additional 900 metres under consideration. He also said reports concerning the Ahoada Campus of Rivers State University would be reviewed before further decisions are taken.

The governor further urged residents to strengthen their grassroots political structures ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure a decisive victory for President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, said the completion of the hospital was timely, given the growing demand for healthcare services in the zone.
She revealed that health facility attendance in the area had increased by nearly 200 per cent, rising from about 407,250 to almost 1.2 million patients annually. According to her, deliveries have risen by 40 per cent, while the number of skilled birth attendants has increased by 60 per cent.

Dr. Oreh explained that these trends informed the expansion of the hospital to include a neonatal intensive care unit and modern delivery suites. She described the facility as a cornerstone of the presidential initiative to transform emergency obstetric and newborn care in Rivers State, particularly in high-burden local government areas such as Ahoada West and Emohua.

She also announced that Rivers State had won a $1.5 million Primary Healthcare award for 2023, 2024 and 2025, symbolically presenting the cheque to the governor during the event.
In his remarks, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Mr. Solomon Abuba Ochoma, described the hospital as a clear demonstration of strengthened grassroots governance.

He noted that the commissioning marked Governor Fubara’s third visit to the local government area and assured that the council would mobilise local structures to ensure the facility is properly utilised, protected and sustained for the benefit of present and future generations.