Delay in PHC renovation worries Benue govt, contractors get fresh ultimatum

By Johnson Arua

The Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, has warned contractors handling the renovation of six Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the state to hasten work and deliver quality projects, expressing disappointment over delays that have pushed the projects beyond their scheduled completion date.

The commissioner issued the warning during an inspection of the health facilities spread across six local government areas, where he assessed the level of work on projects funded by the Global Fund through UNICEF to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots.

Dr. Ogwuche said the state government would not compromise on quality, stressing that the contractors must not only speed up construction but also ensure that every aspect of the work complies with approved specifications.

"We expected these projects to have been completed within the six-week timeline. The pace of work is unsatisfactory, and the contractors must accelerate construction without sacrificing quality," he said.

The Commissioner also identified areas requiring immediate correction, directing the contractors to adjust the roofing and reposition some sections of the buildings to meet the required standards before the projects are certified for use.

The health facilities under renovation are PHC Ameladu in Gboko, PHC Aliade in Gwer East, PHC Ayilamo in Logo, PHC Asa in Otukpo, PHC Orokam in Ogbadibo and PHC Igede in Oju Local Government Areas.

Officials on the inspection team explained that while PHC Asa in Otukpo is being reconstructed as an entirely new health facility, the remaining five centres are being renovated and expanded to improve access to essential healthcare services, especially for women, pregnant mothers, nursing mothers and children under five.

During the visit to PHC Ameladu, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, Pharm. Samuel Terwase Mbatsoron, ordered engineers to replace the roofing sheets and correct the ceiling installation to conform with the approved design.

The contractors admitted they had fallen behind schedule and apologised to the state government for the delay.

"We regret not meeting the agreed completion date. However, we are committed to finishing the work and handing over all the projects to the Benue State Government by July 30, 2026," the contractors assured.

Members of the inspection team included the State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Laminu Nur; Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Austin Adanu; and UNICEF's Vaccine Cold Logistics Officer, Yusuf Mvumble.

The renovation programme is funded by UNICEF under the Global Fund grant as part of efforts to revitalise primary healthcare centres across Benue State. Government officials said the upgraded facilities are expected to improve maternal and child healthcare, reduce pressure on secondary health institutions and expand access to quality healthcare services in rural communities.