Abia State has taken a major step toward transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape with the launch of its ambitious plan to build the country’s first quaternary healthcare facility — the Abia State Medical City. The project aims to curb the nation’s reliance on medical tourism and reduce the billions lost annually to offshore healthcare.
The state government announced over the weekend that it has entered into a strategic partnership with MKP International Holdings, a globally recognized engineering, procurement, and construction consortium. The firm will invest $1.3 billion to finance, develop, build, operate, and eventually transfer ownership of the medical city.
State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, disclosed the development during a tour of the 200-hectare site at Mbasaa, near Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, which has already been acquired and cleared for the project.
According to Uche, Abia’s contribution includes the provision of land, security, and goodwill — commitments that have already been fulfilled. He described the medical city as a landmark initiative under Governor Alex Otti’s administration, aimed at addressing complex health challenges locally.
“This Medical City is the first quaternary hospital in this country that would take care of all levels of complicated healthcare issues,” Uche said. “It will not only reverse medical tourism but also position Abia as a premier medical destination.”
Spanning across seven communities in Isiala Ngwa South and North LGAs, the facility will feature a 1,000-bed ultra-modern hospital equipped to handle a wide range of medical needs, from routine to highly specialized procedures. Uche noted that the complex would include a state-of-the-art oncology centre, a modern surgical center for robotic and organ transplant surgeries, and specialized departments for neurology, orthopedics, cardiology, and cosmetic surgery.
Complementing the healthcare infrastructure will be a five-star medical step-down hotel and a separate tourist hotel, making the area both a healthcare and hospitality hub. Other planned facilities include a children’s hospital, fertility and ophthalmology centres, diagnostic labs, and a digital health technology hub.
The commissioner emphasized the role of the medical city in combating Nigeria’s brain drain and capital flight in healthcare. “It is estimated that about $1.6 billion is lost annually to medical tourism. This project is designed to change that narrative,” he said.
In addition to healthcare services, the complex will house research institutes affiliated with top global universities and hospitals. Uche confirmed that expressions of interest have already come from prestigious institutions in the United States.
“The Abia Medical City is a comprehensive ecosystem that will elevate healthcare delivery, promote wellness, and set a new standard for medical excellence in Nigeria,” he added.
Construction is expected to begin imminently, as MKP International Holdings has indicated readiness to commence work even ahead of the official groundbreaking.
Nzubechukwu Eze
