By Stephen Simon
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has commissioned a newly upgraded Neuropsychiatric Hospital alongside a new General Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. The twin projects mark a major overhaul of medical infrastructure aimed at expanding secondary healthcare and addressing growing mental health and drug rehabilitation needs in the state.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Fubara disclosed that the comprehensive redevelopment stemmed from a routine inspection visit to the old, dilapidated psychiatric facility. Upon noticing that the Hospital Management Board was attempting to construct a small rehabilitation unit using limited overhead funds, he ordered an immediate, full-scale reconstruction of the entire compound into a modern medical hub.
“How could a state like this build less than a 20-room rehabilitation centre because of the issues of substance abuse?” Fubara remarked. “It was there and then that I said: Look, we have this very big compound, we need to rebuild, modernise and upgrade the standard of this Neuropsychiatric Hospital, and that day, we started this journey.”
Tracing the historical background of the facility, the governor noted that the original hospital was conceived in 1970 and inaugurated in 1977 with a modest 50-bed capacity. Over the years, one of its pioneer medical officers, the late Dr. Martins Yellowe, rose to become a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic.
The modernised complex now features a dedicated 100-bed drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centre alongside 50-bed general psychiatric wards and 50-bed private wards. Addressing the societal drivers of mental health crises, Fubara linked rising addiction and psychological stress to systemic challenges such as unemployment and depression.
He emphasized that rehabilitation centers are essential tools for societal reintegration, urging the public to stop stigmatizing individuals seeking mental health treatment. Furthermore, the governor revealed that secure fencing and controlled access were installed to eliminate illicit drug trafficking that had previously plagued the surrounding premises.
Explaining the decision to construct an adjacent General Hospital, Fubara highlighted that Obio/Akpor—one of the state’s most populous local government areas—previously lacked a secondary healthcare facility. Residents had been forced to rely solely on local primary health centers or travel to tertiary institutions like the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).
According to Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the new medical facilities feature state-of-the-art infrastructure:
General Hospital Features: Fully equipped Accident and Emergency unit, operating theatre, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Newborn ICU, surgical recovery rooms, pediatric and maternity wards, X-ray diagnostic suits, and laboratories.
Specialized Neuropsychiatric Units: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) center, ICT research center, consulting suites, recreational spaces, and an administrative complex.
Residential & Support Amenities: A 216-bed students’ hostel, staff quarters consisting of 12 two-bedroom apartments, new ambulances, dedicated transformers, a 350KVA generator set, and a 120KVA solar-inverter power installation.
Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare, education, and housing as fundamental pillars for sustained human capital development across Rivers State.
