Nigeria's Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said it would need appropriation of an additional N2 billion for the establishment of its proposed Armed Forces Specialist Hospital in Abuja.



DHQ told the House of Representatives Committee on Defence that the total cost of the Specialist hospital fashioned after that of Ghana was N4.5billion, but that in the 2010 budget, only 561 million Naira was released by the Ministry of Finance.

Director of Finance at the DHQ, Major General Daniel Bako told the Committee headed by Mr Oluwole Oke that the piece-meal release of money for the Specialist hospital was discouraging.

His suggestion that money for the Specialist Hospital be diverted to upgrade the Clinic at the headquarters did not go down well with members, who insisted that the funding of the project must continued, more so that it had been appropriated. The DHQ was reminded that the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital was dear to President Goodluck Jonathan, as reflected in his budget speech to the National Assembly.

The Chairman of the Committee noted that there was nothing wrong for Nigeria to have a well equipped military specialist hospital, which can handle the treatment of any kind of diseases."We can not at this time shift the goal post, we can afford to somersault at this time on this project. We will like Mr. President to be treated in this hospital like we have in Ghana."


"This is a project we believe has a legacy, if the fund appropriated for it is not enough, let us know so that we can increase it.

General Bako explained that the N4.5 billion required to fund the project was expected to last for three years, but that rather than appropriating over N1 billion annually, a paltry sum was approved, which was not enough to implement the project.



He added that out of the 13 capital projects of the DHQ in 2010, only contract for the hospital was yet to be awarded due to the challenge. Oke told the military that the Budget Bill was a law, which must therefore be implemented to the letter, insisting that the Specialist hospital must be built, especially being a brain child of the Defence headquarters.

The committee had argued that what was so far released should have been applied for some preliminary stages of the project, such as surveying, drawing and other sundry works, while more funds are being expected.

By Bobby Olagoke