The Cross River State Government has announced the commissioning of a state-of-the-art medical oxygen plant at the General Hospital, Ogoja, scheduled for July 2025, as part of its strategic efforts to enhance emergency health services, especially in the northern part of the state.
This development was confirmed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, during a recent visit to the facility, where he expressed satisfaction with the plant’s ongoing operations. He highlighted the commitment of Governor Bassey Otu to upgrading health infrastructure and ensuring accessible, quality care for all citizens.
“The COVID‑19 era exposed the vulnerabilities of global health systems in managing acute emergencies,” Dr. Ayuk noted. “As a state, we are determined and prepared at all times to address any outbreak.”
Dr. Ayuk emphasised that the new Ogoja plant aligns with the state’s broader strategy to decentralize critical health infrastructure. “By reducing dependence on external suppliers, it not only ensures steady oxygen availability but also promises cost savings and improved autonomy for rural health facilities.”
Complementing this effort, the Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital, Dr. Patrick Ugbe, affirmed the hospital’s readiness to extend oxygen services across the northern and central regions of Cross River State, and even to neighboring states.
The Ogoja oxygen plant results from a robust partnership between the Cross River State Government and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). The facility is designed to supply medical-grade oxygen to both public and private healthcare facilities across the northern senatorial district, supporting broader regional healthcare resilience.
This initiative follows previous successes in Cross River’s capital, Calabar, where a similarly designed Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) plant was commissioned in May 2024 at General Hospital, Calabar, funded through collaborative efforts involving UNICEF, IHS Towers, and the Government of Canada.
With the commissioning set for July 2025, the Ogoja medical oxygen plant is expected to dramatically improve emergency care outcomes, particularly for trauma patients, surgical cases, and critically ill children. The government plans to conduct continuous monitoring of operations and explore opportunities for similar facilities in other underserved zones.
