Governor AbdulRazaq Commissions 83 Revitalised PHCs, Vows Quality Healthcare For All Kwarans

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Monday, December, 22, 2025 commissioned 83 revitalised Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the state. The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to make quality healthcare accessible to every resident, irrespective of location. The commissioning, held at the Primary Health Care Centre, Oloje, Ilorin West Local Government Area, marked another milestone in the government’s health sector reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots healthcare delivery. Speaking at the event, the governor said the revitalisation of the facilities fulfilled a major promise made at the inception of his administration in 2019 to improve access to quality healthcare services statewide. “On assumption of office in 2019, we made promises that quality healthcare would be accessible to everyone in the state. This commissioning speaks to our commitment to giving quality healthcare to every citizen of Kwara State regardless of where they live,” AbdulRazaq said. He described primary healthcare as the foundation of any functional health system. He added that the newly upgraded centres would receive sustained attention to ensure efficiency and sustainability. According to him, the facilities have been renovated to modern standards, assuring that pregnant women would no longer need to travel long distances to access antenatal care and safe delivery services. “I do the commissioning today with the conviction that we are writing a new chapter in the history of healthcare in our state. This initiative represents more than mere buildings and equipment; it represents hope, dignity and our administration’s determination to bridge healthcare gaps between urban and rural communities,” he added. Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Prof. Nusirat Elelu, said 70 of the revitalised centres were funded through the World Bank-supported IMPACT project. She added that13 were rehabilitated through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, Kwara State Project HOPE and proceeds from the 2023 and 2024 Leadership Challenge Fund awards won by the state. She noted that the 83 facilities had been upgraded to standard Level 2 PHCs equipped with functional labour rooms, immunisation units with reliable cold chain systems, antenatal and postnatal care units, laboratories, pharmacies, essential medicines and equipment, solar-powered electricity, motorised boreholes for clean water, perimeter fencing and staff quarters to guarantee 24-hour service delivery. Elelu said the revitalisation had significantly improved health outcomes in the state, disclosing that Kwara had won national recognition three consecutive times under the PHC Leadership Challenge Fund Award, earning incentives totalling $1.4 million. She revealed that over 722,000 outpatients had accessed PHC services, over 30,000 deliveries had been recorded—up from 8,020 in 2020—while more than 500,000 pregnant women had received haematinics and over 1.6 million children reached with Vitamin A supplementation. “Kwara State remains the safest place to be born in Nigeria, with the lowest under-five mortality rate. These are not just statistics; they represent people whose futures have been secured through lifesaving services,” she said. In her goodwill message, the National Project Manager of the World Bank-assisted IMPACT project, Dr. Amina Abdul-One Muhammad said the project aimed to improve the utilisation and quality of immunisation, maternal and child health, and malaria services through infrastructural upgrades, capacity building of health workers, cold chain management, outreach services, digitalisation of facilities and provision of free delivery kits. She disclosed that 70 PHCs in Kwara had been upgraded to Level 2 facilities under the project, adding that a high-capacity incinerator had also been provided to improve healthcare waste management. As part of the event, outstanding local governments in primary healthcare delivery were recognised. Ilorin East Local Government emerged as the Best Local Government in Kwara State for Healthcare in 2025. Ilorin West was named Overall Best LG, receiving an additional ₦4 million, while Ilorin West, Irepodun and Moro LGs were also recognised as best-performing councils in Kwara Central, South and North respectively, with each receiving ₦2 million. The awards were presented by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi. Various goodwill messages were delivered by stakeholders, including Hon. Engr. Busari Olohundare Jimoh, Alhaji Funsho Amin on behalf of the Mogaji Oloje community, and other community leaders who commended the governor for prioritising healthcare development. #Kwara #Kwarastate #Ilorin #health