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Mbah installs N500m Surgical Equipment at Parklane, targets Nigeria’s Best Teaching Hospital
…CMD: Upgrades have strengthened specialist care and postgraduate training, as ESUTH secures multiple five-year accreditations
The administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has installed new surgical equipment and upgraded medical facilities valued at over N500 million at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu, as part of efforts to transform the institution into a world-class tertiary healthcare and specialist training centre, with the ultimate goal of making it one of the best teaching hospitals in Nigeria.
The Chief Medical Director of ESUTH, Prof. Bethrand Ngwu, disclosed this over the weekend when he conducted Government House Correspondents on an inspection of the newly installed facilities, including the main theatre, Accident and Emergency Department and specialised equipment for complex surgical procedures.
Chief Medical Director of ESUTH, Prof. Bethrand Ngwu
Prof. Ngwu said the upgrades were strengthening the hospital’s capacity to provide faster and more specialised care to patients, while also supporting postgraduate medical training and accreditation.
“Those machines provided by His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, are all aimed at postgraduate accreditation by these two big institutions, the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Surgeons,” he said.
But beyond professional requirements, the CMD said the upgrades were designed to make a tangible difference in the treatment of patients, particularly those arriving in emergencies.
He said the upgraded Accident and Emergency Department was being developed to function as an autonomous unit where patients could undergo necessary investigations and receive immediate treatment without being moved unnecessarily between different sections of the hospital.
“When he came, the Accident and Emergency was empty. But now you can see how beautiful it is looking. That is what he wants. He wants here to look beautiful, efficient and functional. And that is where we are going,” Ngwu said.
According to him, the arrangement would enable emergency patients to undergo necessary tests and receive immediate treatment within the unit, while those requiring surgery could be operated on there and later transferred to the ward after stabilisation.
Prof. Ngwu said the new equipment had also expanded the hospital’s capacity to undertake highly specialised procedures such as neurosurgery.
He disclosed that the neurosurgical theatre had received new operating tables, ventilators and specialised anaesthetic equipment fitted with capnography, which enables doctors to monitor carbon dioxide levels during complex operations.
Ngwu said ESUTH had recorded several accreditation successes across its specialist programmes since 2023, while explaining that accreditation was essential because resident doctors must train in accredited programmes before proceeding to their professional examinations.
“Accreditation is a regular thing. Because if you do not have accreditation, you cannot even go for professional examination,” he said.
He noted that ESUTH had also recently received accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which oversees undergraduate medical training, with the hospital’s MBBS quota subsequently increased to 350 medical students.
According to him, the hospital had secured five-year accreditations from the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Surgeons in areas including Family Medicine, Anaesthesia, Physiotherapy and Radiography, while its School of Nursing had also been upgraded to a College of Nursing.
Also, the hospital is preparing for another round of postgraduate accreditations in October, with the Accident and Emergency and Surgery departments among the areas to undergo review by the relevant professional bodies.
Prof. Ngwu said Parklane’s specialist manpower was another major strength of the institution, disclosing that the hospital had approximately 126 full-time consultants as of December 2025 and 50 part-time consultants currently, covering different fields of specialty, including paediatric surgery and neurosurgery.
He disclosed further that the hospital had nearly 300 resident doctors, 540 nurses and 120 house officers, adding that Governor Mbah had also granted approval for a further increase in the hospital’s manpower.
On reports of an ongoing strike by resident doctors, the CMD confirmed that they had indeed embarked on a partial strike, but said the action lasted less than three weeks before it was called off following the resolution of the misunderstanding.
The CMD said the hospital’s resident doctors were benefiting from the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), introduced by the Mbah administration to support specialist training and professional examinations. He said the government had this year paid the MRTF for 266 resident doctors, at nearly N1 million per doctor.
“This Medical Residency Training Fund was not in place before Governor Mbah came. He introduced it. He said every doctor should go for more training,” Ngwu said.
Prof. Ngwu said the administration had also invested in the training and welfare of interns across different health professions, including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy and radiology, providing them with the necessary environment for their compulsory one-year professional training.
He said the interns had expressed appreciation for the intervention and were planning a statewide sporting championship in honour of the governor.
The CMD further disclosed that the hospital was working towards completing a new multi-storey medical and diagnostic complex containing several theatres, advanced laboratories, intensive care units and recovery rooms.
He explained that management had decided to refurbish the existing theatre complex rather than wait for the new building to be completed because postgraduate doctors currently undergoing training needed the facilities for their examinations and accreditation exercises.
According to him, the existing theatre building had been refurbished and modified in line with requirements raised by the National Postgraduate Medical College, including improvements to its access points, lighting and other essential facilities.
He said the new medical complex would eventually provide expanded capacity for surgical procedures, intensive care and post-operative recovery, while the existing facility could subsequently be removed, converted to another use or further modernised.
Prof. Ngwu also outlined measures being put in place to ensure that the multimillion-naira equipment would remain functional and deliver value over the long term.
He said the hospital was training biomedical engineers and technicians while also entering into service agreements with equipment suppliers to provide maintenance for between two and three years after installation.
“The whole essence is that if an equipment is bought or installed, and is maintained for two or three years, before the end of that period, we must have had or trained people who will continue to maintain and manage it,” he said.
The CMD added that the hospital was also adopting a backup strategy for critical equipment to ensure that services would not be disrupted when a machine was undergoing servicing or developed a fault.
He cited imaging equipment as an example, saying some machines were currently undergoing servicing while additional equipment supplied by the state government provided backup capacity.
Prof. Ngwu said the upgraded facilities were available to all patients, regardless of their social or economic status, dismissing reports that the new Accident and Emergency building was reserved for VIPs.
“Whether you are rich or poor, we accept you, and no part of this hospital is reserved for VIPs. Reports that the new Accident and Emergency building is exclusively reserved for VIPs are false and should be disregarded. This is our hospital,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the state government for its interventions at Parklane, saying the upgrades had significantly changed the physical and professional environment at the hospital.
“The upgrades we have witnessed in this hospital over the past three years of Governor Mbah’s administration have been substantial and cut across every sector. But His Excellency prefers to let his work speak for itself. He does not make noise about what he does. He simply focuses on getting things done and done properly,” he said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending about four weeks in Europe, declaring that he is hale, healthy and ready to resume work.
Tinubu made the remarks on Tuesday evening after arriving in Lagos from Paris, where he had spent the latter part of his working vacation.
Responding to journalists who asked about concerns raised about his health condition, the President said he remained fit and prepared to continue his duties.
“Rumours will always emanate from politics. I am hale and strong. I am ready to work. The fact remains that I am here, healthy, sound and ready to go,” Tinubu said.
The President had departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, with the Presidency describing the trip as a working vacation.
He later extended his stay by a few days before returning to Nigeria on Tuesday.
His prolonged absence from the country had generated public and political debate, with opposition figures questioning the length of his stay abroad and his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Presidency, however, maintained that Tinubu remained in touch with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at several official engagements, including the UN General Assembly.
During his time in France, Tinubu met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency also linked his stay to engagements with investors and discussions around major investment projects, including the proposed Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun State.
The President is expected to remain in Lagos for the 66th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
He is scheduled to attend official engagements in the state, including activities marking Nigeria’s independence on October 1, before returning to Abuja.
The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Johannesburg has condemned the deaths of three Nigerian nationals killed in different parts of South Africa in less than one week, between September 18 and 21, 2026.
In a statement issued today, the Consulate said the killings raise fresh concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa and point to what seems to be a pattern of targeting Nigerians.
According to the Consulate, on September 18, 2026, one Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemadu allegedly jumped to his death while trying to escape police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street, Central Business District (CBD), Bloemfontein.
On September 20, 2026, another Nigerian, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde, was shot dead at Spanata Bar and Grill Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, by an unidentified South African.
The deceased, who worked as a security guard at the club located in Summer Event Centre, was said to have attempted to stop a customer from leaving the club with a cup belonging to the club.
The encounter degenerated into an altercation, and the customer pulled out his firearm and shot Olatunde in the lower body, leading to serious injury and profuse loss of blood.
“The shooter immediately fled the scene. However, on realising that his identity was known by many at the Club, he later returned to the Club and threatened to also kill any witnesses who dare to report the case and identify him to the Police,” the statement said.
Olatunde was rushed to Mamelodi Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on the morning of September 21, 2026.
The third incident occurred on September 21, 2026, in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, where South African politician-cum-investigative content creator, Xolani Khumalo, and his content creation team, Sizok’thola, allegedly tortured and killed Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
The Consulate said that, despite not finding anything incriminating on the deceased, the crew beat and tortured him before he attempted to escape by jumping over a fence, after which he collapsed from injuries and exhaustion and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The Consulate recalled that on February 9, 2026, another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, was also shot dead by the same Khumalo’s reality TV crew in Windsor East, Randburg, yet no arrests have been made and Khumalo is currently running for election to become Mayor of Ekurhuleni.
“Reports of these continuous incidents are deeply troubling and continue to raise numerous questions over the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa,” the Consulate said, calling on relevant South African authorities to investigate the deaths thoroughly and bring perpetrators to justice.
“Our position remains that Nigerian and all lives matter. In cases where allegations may exist, no matter what they are, there are processes and steps to justice. All should be presumed innocent,” it added.
News
Ojukwu Property Dispute: OTL petitions IGP over demolition, construction at Macpherson Avenue Property
By Tony Edike
The long-running property dispute involving Bianca Ojukwu and Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) has taken a fresh turn following the demolition of a property at 4 Macpherson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, and what the company describes as ongoing unauthorised construction on the site.
In a petition dated August 20, 2026 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), OTL called for the immediate cessation of activities at the property and its return to the company pending the resolution of outstanding court proceedings.
The company said the property was taken over on May 1, 2025, when officers from Zone 2, Lagos, accompanied by lawyers representing Bianca Ojukwu, identified in the petition as Omeye and Duru, took over the premises.
Ongoing construction at the site
OTL alleged that the police action was based on what it described as “false claims” made by Bianca Ojukwu and her lawyers.
According to the company, the property had previously been the subject of litigation and enforcement proceedings. OTL said it had, pursuant to a 2018 judgment by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji, obtained and executed a warrant on the properties in 2022.
The company further stated that it subsequently commenced an appeal process against the 2022 judgment of Justice A.M. Lawal and served the relevant stay processes.
OTL said that despite the unresolved legal proceedings, the property at Macpherson Avenue was demolished and construction subsequently commenced on the site.
OTL’s fresh petition to IGP
In the August 2026 petition, Ojukwu Transport Limited, said it had previously petitioned the IGP on August 22, 2025, with a reminder in January 2026, seeking the return of the property.
The company said that its earlier complaints had not been responded to, while activities at the property had continued.
A new structure under construction at the site
“OTL, the owner of the property, discovered that the same property taken over by police with no response to our previous petitions/demands had been demolished and construction now ongoing,” the company stated in the petition.
It consequently asked the IGP to urgently intervene by stopping all activities on the property and removing persons allegedly occupying or working on the premises.
The company also requested that the property be returned to it while the outstanding court issues are allowed to run their course.
“Criminality and abuse of power should not be condoned,” the petition stated.
Earlier police petitions
OTL said its initial petition in August 2025 was prepared by Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, on the instructions of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Jnr, whom the company identified as head of the Ikemba branch of the family as well as a shareholder and director of OTL.
The company maintained that Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, are not shareholders or directors of OTL.
A separate petition was also reportedly submitted to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, in September 2026, specifically concerning the alleged demolition and ongoing construction at the Macpherson Avenue property.
OTL alleged that the ongoing development was taking place with the knowledge and protection of police personnel.
However, these allegations have not been independently established in the materials made available to The Advocate.
Contempt proceedings
OTL said Bianca Ojukwu and her sons had earlier, in 2024, applied for Form 49 contempt proceedings before Justice Lawal.
The company also alleged that proceedings had suffered delays because the case file earlier requested by Bianca’s lawyers was unavailable or had not been returned to court on two consecutive occasions.
Other properties involved
According to OTL, the matter before Justice Lawal includes, in addition to 4 Macpherson Avenue :
* 30 Gerrard Road, Ikoyi
* 29 Oyinkan Abayomi, Ikoyi
* 13 Ojora, Ikoyi
* 32 Commercial Avenue, Yaba
OTL maintains that it is the owner of the properties.
OTL demands return of property
OTL described the alleged demolition and construction as a “blatant and provocative disregard for the rule of law” and accused a serving federal government minister and her lawyers of abuse of office and power.
Those allegations are OTL’s position and have not been independently established.
The company is demanding that the alleged construction be stopped, all persons allegedly occupying the property be removed and the property returned to OTL pending the conclusion of the court proceedings.
The latest development is another chapter to the long-running legal dispute with Ojukwu Transport Limited.
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