A US-based medical doctor has rebuffed Nigerian government’s involvement using tax payers’ money to establish hospitals which are not properly run and managed in rendering efficient health-care service delivery to the people.
This is against the background of some Nigerian leaders and rich people despite the hospitals going overseas for medical tourism which, to a large extent, helps to deplete the country’s foreign exchange.
Ndem Ndem, speaking on a privately owned radio station, Inspiration FM in Uyo Sunday, said government should provide enabling environment for interested investors and persons to establish the hospitals rather than government engaging in building hospitals which it would not be able to manage.
“Government has no business to engage in the establishment of hospitals. Hospitals are private investments. In United States, they are established and owned by individuals and given to consultants for management in a bid to make profit,” Ndem observed.
He kicked against the establishment of Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo by Akwa Ibom government that has gulped billions of naira, noting “I do not want to go into the establishment of the hospital because it is enmeshed in a lot of politics.”
Commenting on the high rate of unemployment in the country, he noted that if US President or governor fails to bring down the percentile of unemployment he met before taking over the rein of governance, he cannot go to the electorate to canvass for votes talk less of seeking re-election.
“It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, one-man, one-vote is not obtainable. This is the reason the Nigerian politicians take the voters for granted knowing that they could grab power without the votes of the masses.
But then, it is the duty of government to source for jobs for it citizens. Let our leaders change the way they are doing things. For Akwa Ibom government, it should more to encourage the establishment of industries in the state to create more gainful employment opportunites for the people. Akwa Ibom collects the highest allocations from the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) on a monthly basis which should be ploughed into job creation for the masses.”
Ndem, who is an indigene of Nsit Atai in Akwa Ibom reasoned that prospective investors want security of their investments and called on the government to emulate India in guaranteeing security to attract industries to the country and the state.
“Nigeria is ripe for industrialization. We can collaborate with China in the production of computers instead of importing them. If it costs N30 billion to build an industry, government has to assist the young investors in raising loan for this and provide tax incentives to them,” he enjoined.
The medical practitioner, who is also the champion of One-For-Good governance, harped on the need for Nigeria to engender good governance on facts of government to instill public confidence in the leadership and alleviate hardships among the people.
