Posted on: Mon 09-06-2025

In what is fast becoming a model for healthcare revitalization, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, has joined a growing list of Nigerian hospitals experiencing transformative upgrades—thanks to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and its visionary Hospital Support Programme (HSP). The inauguration of the newly upgraded Neonatal Wards and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at FMC Asaba is more than a ceremonial milestone—it reflects a developing trend of strategic investments that are beginning to reshape Nigeria’s critical care infrastructure.

This is the future of healthcare delivery in motion.

NLNG’s intervention through the HSP, launched in 2021, has now resulted in measurable improvements across nine federal hospitals nationwide, and FMC Asaba becomes the latest symbol of what is possible when corporate responsibility aligns with public health priorities.

“As a medical doctor, I understand the life-saving impact of facilities like this,” remarked NLNG CEO Dr. Philip Mshelbila in a message delivered by Dr. Sophia Horsfall. “This is a step forward toward a more responsive healthcare system.”

That step forward is visible. From oxygen-piped incubators and automated doors to specialized prep rooms and recovery areas, the upgrades offer not just state-of-the-art equipment, but also an ecosystem designed for speed, safety, and precision in care—a true shift from reactive care to proactive and prepared clinical environments.

A Strategic Model Emerging

This isn’t an isolated intervention. It’s part of a deliberate strategy to modernize Nigeria’s tertiary healthcare infrastructure—especially in the wake of COVID-19, which exposed gaps even in the most developed systems. What NLNG has demonstrated is that targeted, sustained investment can elevate outcomes, even in historically under-resourced facilities.

The focus on neonatal and intensive care is also timely. According to the World Bank, Nigeria accounts for 20% of global maternal and child deaths—a staggering figure that demands urgent, evidence-based responses. With the newly commissioned units in Asaba, NLNG is not just responding; it is helping set a new standard for what should be expected in public hospital care for the most vulnerable.

A Call for More Partnerships

The Federal Ministry of Health has taken note. Representing the Minister of State for Health at the commissioning, Dr. Jimoh Olawole Salaudeen described the intervention as “an investment not just for today, but for posterity,” and a core part of the Tinubu administration’s drive to reduce infant and child mortality under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He rightly pointed out that while government will continue to play its role, no single actor can carry the burden of health transformation alone. What NLNG has done should now serve as a template for private sector engagement in Nigeria’s health sector—measurable, sustainable, and people-centered.

FMC Asaba: A Hospital Transformed

Chief Medical Director Dr. Victor Osiatuma expressed heartfelt gratitude to NLNG, recalling the transparent and professional journey that brought the project to life. “What we now have is a world-class facility,” he said. “Every incubator and cot is piped with oxygen. Every child that enters these wards now has a fighting chance.”

What’s more, FMC Asaba’s transformation has ignited interest in elevating the facility into a teaching hospital, a development that would solidify its role as a regional centre of excellence in neonatology. It’s a powerful endorsement of what visionary leadership and strategic investment can achieve.

Looking Ahead

This story is more than a celebration—it’s a sign of an upward trajectory for Nigeria’s health sector, especially when public-private collaboration is grounded in sustainability and patient outcomes. The NLNG’s Hospital Support Programme is showing that even in a system plagued by challenges, a trend toward lasting improvement is very much underway.

But this momentum must be sustained. As Dr. Salaudeen emphasized, the return on investment in healthcare is unmatched, particularly when the beneficiaries are infants and children—the future of the nation.

What’s needed now is for other corporate actors, philanthropists, and development partners to take the baton. NLNG has proven that with commitment and clarity, meaningful transformation is within reach.

If FMC Asaba is anything to go by, Nigeria’s hospitals are ready—not just for upgrades, but for a new era of excellence in care.

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