The Benue State Government has cracked down on contractors handling the renovation of Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the state, directing them to accelerate work and meet quality standards following observed delays.
During an inspection tour of six PHC facilities, the Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of progress. He noted that contractors had exceeded the initial six-week completion timeline and warned them to speed up efforts while ensuring strict compliance with approved designs and specifications.
“I am not satisfied with the pace of work. Contractors must speed up the projects and ensure that every aspect of the construction meets the required specifications and quality standards,” Dr. Ogwuche stated.
At PHC Ameladu in Gboko, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, Samuel Mbatsoron, directed engineers to replace roofing sheets and fix ceilings according to approved specifications. Contractors apologised for the delays but assured the team that all outstanding works would be completed and handed over to the state government on or before July 30, 2026.
The projects, funded by the Global Fund through UNICEF, aim to revitalise primary healthcare facilities and improve access to quality maternal and child healthcare services, particularly for women of child-bearing age, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under five.
The six facilities under renovation include PHC Ameladu in Gboko LGA, PHC Aliade in Gwer East LGA, PHC Ayilamo in Logo LGA, PHC Asa in Otukpo LGA, PHC Orokom in Ogbadibo LGA, and PHC Igede in Oju LGA. While PHC Asa is being rebuilt into a completely new facility, the others are undergoing major upgrades.
The supervision team included officials from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Austin Adanu, and UNICEF’s Vaccine Cold Logistics Officer, Yusuf Mvumble.
This intervention is expected to enhance healthcare delivery and address infrastructure gaps in rural communities across Benue State.
