Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has commissioned a high-capacity medical oxygen plant at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ikom, to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and improve access to medical oxygen across the Central Senatorial District.
The 68-cylinder-per-24-hour Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant, equipped with a 125KVA backup generator and capable of producing oxygen at 94 per cent purity, is expected to improve the availability of essential medical oxygen for patients requiring critical care.
Representing the Governor at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, performed the ceremonial ribbon-cutting to officially open the facility.
Ayuk described the facility as an important addition to the state’s healthcare infrastructure, noting that it would complement existing oxygen plants in Calabar and Ogoja and expand access to medical oxygen across the three senatorial districts.
“Today marks a vital milestone as the Governor commissions this facility to serve our people in the best way possible. With this addition joining our existing plants in Calabar and Ogoja, the Central Senatorial District is now fully covered, ensuring equitable access to oxygen and vital medical supplies for every community,” he said.
The Commissioner disclosed that the state had assumed full operational responsibility for the facility, with arrangements being made to ensure effective management, adequate staffing and uninterrupted service delivery.
“Cross River State Government is extremely pleased with this achievement. We have taken complete ownership and instituted a sustainable framework to guarantee that this plant operates seamlessly for years to come,” Ayuk stated.
He commended the Federal Government for its intervention in strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Cross River, emphasising the importance of sustained collaboration between the two tiers of government in improving access to essential medical services.
The commissioning followed the formal handover of the oxygen plant to the Cross River State Government by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, after the successful completion of installation, technical assessments and operational training.
Earlier, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Oxygen Desk, Engr. Sofeme S. Halvo, confirmed that the plant had undergone successful technical post-installation checks and that local operators had received comprehensive training ahead of the formal handover.
Halvo said the facility had been fully tested and verified before being transferred to the State Ministry of Health, expressing confidence in the state’s capacity to sustain its operations.
“This high-capacity plant has been fully tested, verified and officially handed over to the State Ministry of Health to serve the healthcare needs of the people. Our primary objective is to see this facility function reliably far beyond its commissioning, and we are confident that the robust operational structures assured by the Honourable Commissioner will maintain its sustainability,” he said.
The federal representative highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration between the federal and state governments in expanding access to medical oxygen and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
The installation and commissioning of the Ikom oxygen plant add to Cross River’s medical oxygen infrastructure, with the potential to improve emergency response and the treatment of patients requiring oxygen therapy across the Central Senatorial District.
Present at the ceremony were the Chief Nursing Superintendent of the facility, Alice Simon Okputu; State Oxygen Focal Person, Joseph Abang; and PHC Director, Besong Mercy Okobok, among other healthcare personnel.
By Kingsley Agim
