Garba Shehu dismisses Premium Times report on Aso Rock clinic as ‘insensitive’


The presidency has since dismissed a report by Premium Times Media, detailing how President Muhammadu Buhari proposed N3.8 billion as capital spending for State House’s clinic over and above capital allocation meant for all other nation’s 16 teaching hospitals combined.
Premium Times however insisted that the Presidency failed to provide facts contradicting the story it still stands by.
Presidency however described the story as “insensitive” and “off the mark”.
“This report is not simply off the mark but one that is insensitive to the government’s effort to improve medical facilities at home in Nigeria,” a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, read.
The statement however admitted that the government budgeted N3.8 billion to be spent on the State House Clinic. Shehu said that the State House Clinic serves not just the president and staff of the presidency, but government officials and others.
“The increased spending on government health institutions in the current budget should be seen in the light of the administration’s plan to improve medical facilities at home as a way of discouraging overseas trips in search of treatment by citizens which eat away from our foreign exchange,” he stated.
While the presidential clinic received N3.87billion as proposed capital allocation, the country’s 16 federal government-owned teaching hospitals individually only got a fraction of that vote.
For instance, the proposed budget, N212, 539,245 for capital projects at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital in Lagos, while the capital allocation for the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, is N230, 904,795.

Popular posts from this blog

Shiite Muslim's Protest turns bloody in Abuja leaving two policemen dead, others injured

Image
PHOTOS: Viewers discretion adviced!  An unplanned protest by Shiite Muslims in Abuja today has left two policemen dead, others injured with ten of the protesters gunned down by the police.  The attack which occurred around the Zone 7 police command at Zone 3 Wuse left lots of panic amongst residents and the nearby Wuse market, which was later shutdown as a result of the incident.  The remains of those killed in the course of the attack have been taken to the Wuse General Hospital while some others in critical condition were rushed to National Hospital Abuja.  So far no statement has been issued by either the Force Public Relations Officer or the group that carried out the attack.  The Supreme Leader of the Shiite group, known as the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky have been behind some key protests in the North.  After spending five months receiving medical treatment in Iran, Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah returned to Abuja early th...
Read more

EEDC ANNOUNCES GENERAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE

Image
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has informed it's esteemed customers of a general system collapse that occurred at 18:48 hours today, 14th October, 2024.  According to a statement issued by EEDC Head, Corporate Communication, Emeka Eze, the collapse has resulted in the loss of supply currently being experienced across EEDC network. Consequently, due to this development, all our according to him "interface TCN stations are out of supply, and we are unable to provide services to our customers in Abia, Anambra,  Ebonyi,  Enugu, and Imo States". "We are on standby awaiting detailed information of the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo. 
Read more

Unbearable Cost: Table, sachet water producers shut down production in Enugu

Image
  The Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) says it will shut down and suspend production in all water producing factories in Enugu State due to unbearable high cost of production. This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairman of ATWAP,  Enugu State Chapter, Tony Edike and its State Secretary, Sir Clems Nwamadi, on Sunday in Enugu. The statement was issued after members of ATWAP Enugu State Chapter held an emergency meeting in Enugu on Feb.8, 2024, on challenges confronting all members of the association. It said from Monday, Feb. 12 to Thursday, Feb.15, 2024 all Table Water Producers in Enugu State including Sachets and Pet Bottles are required to down tools and suspend all production. According to the statement, "this is to enable us to seek a workable solution to the many challenges being faced by our members". “The current harsh economic situation in the country especially as it affects materials and other logistics for the productio...
Read more