Aiyedatiwa approves 500-Bed hospital projects, psychiatric upgrade in Ondo
The Ondo state government has approved the construction of hospital facilities with a combined capacity of 500 beds across the state, alongside plans to upgrade and expand mental health infrastructure.
The Ondo state government has approved the construction of hospital facilities with a combined capacity of 500 beds across the state, alongside plans to upgrade and expand mental health infrastructure.
The approvals were announced following the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held at the Governor’s Office in Akure.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to expand healthcare access through the development of multiple 100-bedded and 50-bedded hospital facilities.
According to him, 100-bed hospitals will be constructed in Ikare-Akoko, Ore, and Okitipupa, while an additional 100-bed facility will be added to the State Specialist Hospital and a new specialist hospital in Igbokoda.
He added that 50-bed hospitals have also been approved for Irele and Igbokoda, alongside two general hospitals to operate as "one-stop shop" centres, integrating laboratory, X-ray, consultation, and pharmacy services within a single building.
Ajaka said the projects, when completed, will significantly improve access to quality healthcare and reduce delays in service delivery across the state.
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He further disclosed that the council approved the construction of a new neuropsychiatric hospital and the upgrade of the existing Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Akure, citing increasing cases of mental health disorders and drug abuse.
“The current facility is overstretched, with patients waiting months for admission. The new and upgraded centres will provide modern treatment conditions and better privacy,” he said.
The council also approved a revised cost for the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission building to allow for expansion, as well as the procurement of modern medical equipment for the Government House clinic.
Ajaka added that advanced diagnostic tools, including CT scan, MRI, and mammography machines, will be installed at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has criticised the administration of Governor Aiyedatiwa, describing its pace of governance as slow and reactive.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Public Communications, Wándé Àjàyí, the opposition party questioned the timing of the Executive Council meeting, reportedly the first in 2026.
The PDP described the delay as "irregular" and indicative of a lack of urgency in addressing key challenges facing the state.
"A government that takes months to assemble itself for deliberation cannot convincingly claim urgency in addressing the pressing needs of its people," the statement read.
The party also faulted the emphasis on new hospital projects, arguing that many existing public health facilities remain underfunded, understaffed, and poorly equipped.
While acknowledging the importance of expanding healthcare infrastructure, the PDP maintained that priority should be given to revitalising existing hospitals to ensure effective service delivery.
It noted that the current approach reflects what it termed a "slow, reactive and retrogressive" governance style.
