Lagos Inspects Ojo, Somolu General Hospitals As Projects Advance

The Lagos State Government has intensified monitoring of major healthcare infrastructure projects as the 280-bed Ojo General Hospital nears completion, while construction of the new 180-bed Somolu General Hospital progresses.

The state government disclosed this in a post on its official X page, saying the Somolu facility is being developed as a specialised centre for head and neck-related medical services.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the two projects on Friday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the Ojo General Hospital was about 85 per cent complete and was expected to be ready for commissioning by the end of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027.

Abayomi, who was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Dr Adekunle Olayinka, said the Ojo project had entered its finishing stage, with high-tech medical equipment and furniture already ordered.

He added that inspection visits would now be conducted more frequently to ensure that the facility was completed according to the required standards.

At Somolu, the Commissioner inspected the foundation of the new seven-floor, 180-bed multi-specialist hospital, which is currently about 15 per cent complete.

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The project is being constructed on the former Somolu Local Government headquarters site following the relocation of the council administration to another facility.

Abayomi explained that the decision to construct a new hospital rather than expand the existing facility was informed by the size of its catchment population and the limitations of the current 60-bed hospital.

He assured residents that the existing Somolu General Hospital would continue to provide uninterrupted clinical services throughout the construction of the new facility.

The Commissioner disclosed that the new Somolu hospital would be designated as a Head and Neck Super-Specialty Centre, offering Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Ear, Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology and Dentistry, alongside core specialties including Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

“The specialisation plan formed part of the State’s broader strategy to transform its general hospitals into centres of excellence with designated super-specialities,” Abayomi said.

He added that the approach would expand access to advanced medical interventions and reduce the need for Lagos residents to travel outside the country for specialised treatment.

Abayomi also disclosed that the new hospital designs incorporate renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, improved patient and staff movement, water catchment, sewage management and infection prevention and control measures.

He said the measures were aimed at making the facilities more sustainable, energy-efficient and safer for patients and healthcare workers.

According to the Commissioner, about 107,000 registered patients currently access services at the Somolu facility, while its wider catchment area is estimated at between five and 10 million people, highlighting the need for a larger and modern hospital.

Also speaking, Olayinka said the inspection at Ojo confirmed the project’s reported 85 per cent completion, while quality assurance and control teams had identified minor areas requiring correction by the contractor.

He said the solar installation at the Ojo hospital met the required specifications and would provide an alternative power source when the facility becomes operational.

Olayinka added that the Somolu project had experienced some initial challenges but was now progressing after the identified issues were resolved.

He said the Somolu hospital was expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027, with modern engineering systems, green technologies, carbon-reduction measures and solar power incorporated into its design.