Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Imo State Government for the establishment and immediate take‑off of a new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Okigwe, a strategic move designed to expand tertiary healthcare access in the South‑East following the conversion of the existing Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, into a Federal Teaching Hospital. The MoU was signed on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, in Owerri, the state capital, by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, on behalf of the Federal Government, and the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on behalf of the Imo State Government.
The agreement follows the recent conversion of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, into a Federal Teaching Hospital to support medical education and clinical training for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). To ensure continued expansion of access to tertiary healthcare services in the state, the Imo State Government ceded the State General Hospital, Okigwe, to the Federal Government for its conversion into a new Federal Medical Centre. The transfer includes the hospital’s assets, liabilities and workforce, facilitating a seamless transition and immediate operationalisation of the new institution.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Salako described the development as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to quality healthcare services across the country. “The establishment of the Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe, reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to improving healthcare access and bringing quality tertiary health services closer to Nigerians,” the minister stated. “This partnership with the Imo State Government will not only strengthen healthcare delivery in the South‑East but also support training, research, job creation and improved health outcomes for the people.”
Governor Hope Uzodimma commended the Federal Government for its continued support to Imo State and described the establishment of FMC Okigwe as another significant milestone in the state’s healthcare development journey. “The Federal Government has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the development of healthcare infrastructure in Imo State through the approval of several interventions and projects,” the governor said. “Following the conversion of the existing FMC into a Federal Teaching Hospital, the establishment of FMC Okigwe ensures expanded access to tertiary healthcare services for our people. We are particularly grateful for the approval of the takeover of the hospital’s assets, liabilities and workforce to facilitate the seamless take‑off of the new institution.”
The Director of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Abisola Adegoke, noted that the new Federal Medical Centre would strengthen referral services and improve access to specialised care within Imo State and neighbouring states. “The establishment of FMC Okigwe is a strategic investment in health service delivery,” she stated. “It will enhance access to specialised medical services, strengthen emergency and referral care, support health workforce development and contribute to the broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring the successful operationalisation of the facility for the benefit of the people.”
The conversion of FMC Owerri into a Federal Teaching Hospital was necessitated by the need to provide clinical training facilities for medical students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), which has been expanding its medical programmes. Teaching hospitals are tertiary healthcare institutions affiliated with universities, providing clinical training for medical students, internships for graduates, and residency programmes for specialist doctors. By establishing a new Federal Medical Centre in Okigwe, the government effectively replaces the tertiary care capacity lost through the conversion while upgrading the overall health infrastructure in the state.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to working with state governments and other stakeholders to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve service delivery and advance the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector. The agreement marks the latest in a series of federal healthcare interventions in Imo State, which has also benefited from the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres, the deployment of medical equipment and various disease control programmes.
For the people of Okigwe and surrounding communities in Imo North Senatorial District, the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre promises improved access to specialised care, emergency services and diagnostic facilities that were previously unavailable or accessible only after long journeys to Owerri or beyond. The conversion of the State General Hospital into a federally funded and managed institution is also expected to attract more medical professionals, improve staff welfare and increase the availability of medicines and equipment. As the Federal Government and Imo State work to operationalise the new FMC, residents of Okigwe and neighbouring states such as Abia, Ebonyi and Rivers can look forward to expanded healthcare options in the years ahead.
The signing of the MoU was attended by senior officials from both the federal and state ministries of health, representatives of the hospital workforce and traditional rulers from the Okigwe area. No timeline for the full operationalisation of the new Federal Medical Centre was disclosed, but the immediate take‑off is expected to involve the retention of existing staff and the gradual integration of federal funding and oversight mechanisms. With this development, Imo State now hosts two federal tertiary health institutions: the Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri, and the new Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe, significantly boosting the state’s capacity to provide quality healthcare services to its citizens and neighbours.
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