Imo: Why I ceded govt hospitals to private, other organisations -Okorocha

Out- going governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has given reason he handed over some hospitals which were before now under the supervision of the state government to  churches, armed forces and other organisations.

He said his government decided to expand the scope of government by bringing in private participation, adding that five years ago the government conceptualized the Public Private Partnership (PPP) which allowed government to partner private organisations to help in providing infrastructure.

He told those who benefited from the hand-over that by the arrangement, they were expected to manage it for specific number of years and would be paying a monthly token as agreed with government, after which they would be asked to go further if government was satisfied.

Okorocha, who recently established six universities, four polytechnics and two colleges of education in the state, reminded private investors that government was looking for people to partner with them to enable the institutions perform.

“What I think is that government should provide the  infrastructure and allow private people to run them because government cannot run them very well.”

He warned those who took over the hospitals to desist from selling or handing over the property to other organizations or do any alterations without the knowledge of government.

Some of the hospitals handed over were Ogwa General hospital, handed over to Owerri Anglican Diocese; Owerri West General Hospital handed  over to the Nigeria Army; that of Owerri North handed over to the Nigeria Airforce; that of Ngor Okpala handed over to the Nigeria Navy; that of Ohaji Egbema handed over to the Lord’s Chosen Ministry, and that of Ideato South handed over to the Nigeria Police.

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