The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the ongoing General Hospital project in Ikom Local Government Area as part of efforts to revive abandoned public infrastructure and expand access to quality healthcare services across the state.
The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, gave the assurance during an unscheduled inspection of the project site on Friday, August 7, 2026, where he assessed the structural condition and progress of work on the facility. He was accompanied by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ebge Ayuk, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Stakeholders Engagement, Mr. Pedro Eyet.
Speaking during the inspection, Rt. Hon. Odey said the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu remains resolute in its determination to complete strategic healthcare projects that will improve access to quality medical services, particularly for communities in the Central Senatorial District and other underserved areas of the state.
He noted that allowing critical healthcare infrastructure to remain abandoned deprives citizens of essential medical services and undermines government efforts to strengthen the healthcare system.
The Deputy Governor assured that the state government would review all outstanding issues affecting the project and mobilise the necessary resources to ensure the facility is reactivated, completed and put into optimal use for the benefit of the people.
Providing a brief on the project, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ebge Ayuk, explained that construction experienced initial setbacks following the relocation of the project from the proposed Primary Healthcare Centre site to its present location after the Etayip Community donated land for the development.
He said the transition required the relocation of farmlands and temporary residential structures, while the sharp rise in the cost of building materials also impacted the pace of execution. According to the Commissioner, the state government addressed the challenges by compensating affected persons, acquiring adjoining plots and procuring critical building materials, including timber doors and window frames, in preparation for the completion of the project.
The project contractor, Engr. Eric Achu, conducted the inspection team round the facility and presented a technical overview of the project and the level of work completed.
He explained that the project was initially conceived as an upgrade of the nearby Primary Healthcare Centre into a cottage hospital before the present administration expanded its scope into a modern 40-bed General Hospital to meet the growing healthcare needs of Ikom and adjoining communities.
According to the contractor, the upgraded facility will comprise comprehensive male and female wards, consulting rooms, a medical laboratory, a radiology department and accessibility ramps designed to ensure easy access for persons living with disabilities.
Engr. Achu expressed optimism that with sustained government support, the remaining phases of construction would be completed within schedule, paving the way for the hospital to begin providing quality healthcare services to residents.
By Kingsley Agim
