Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has set a target of securing Joint Commission International (JCI) certification for three major hospitals in the state.
The facilities are Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba; Amachara Specialist Hospital, Umuahia; and Umunnato Specialist Hospital, Bende. All three are currently undergoing reconstruction and upgrade into modern referral centres across the state’s senatorial zones.
Otti disclosed this on Monday, April 27, 2026, while receiving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of JNCI, Clare Omatseye, and her delegation at the Government House, Umuahia. The team briefed him on the progress of the redesign, reconstruction and equipping of the hospitals.
JCI certification is regarded globally as a benchmark for healthcare quality, patient safety and operational standards. Only two hospitals in Nigeria currently hold the accreditation.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and said his administration was also restructuring the management of ABSUTH to improve efficiency.
“I am happy that we have made a lot of progress. While we are doing these, we are also rejigging the management and leadership of ABSUTH, Aba. Everything is going on simultaneously,” Otti said.
He also directed that all necessary approvals be fast-tracked to avoid delays in project execution.
“All the documents that are required to be signed, please let’s have them, and we will sign and return them within the week. We will also put more pressure on the contractor, even if he has to work 24 hours, because I do not like the sound of delay,” he added.
Otti explained that the decision to centralise advanced radiography services at ABSUTH was to improve efficiency and maximise impact, adding that Amachara and Umunnato hospitals are being developed as tertiary facilities to complement ABSUTH in delivering specialised healthcare services.
Earlier, Clare Omatseye commended the state government’s reforms in the health sector, noting improvements across primary, secondary and tertiary care systems.
She disclosed that a $1 million MRI machine donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be installed at ABSUTH, adding that the state is steadily progressing towards international healthcare standards.
