By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State health sector received a significant boost on Thursday with the commissioning of a new radiology X-ray machine at General Hospital Odan-Lagos, donated by Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The intervention is expected to strengthen diagnostic capacity at the historic hospital, one of Nigeria’s oldest public health facilities. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Senator Eshinlokun, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, said the donation was part of an ongoing collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health aimed at improving healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.
He disclosed that engagements with the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had produced agreed interventions across the sector. According to him, approvals have already been granted for the construction of two new Primary Health Centres at Ojo-Giwa and Itire-Ikate, with designs completed and contracts awarded. He added that further interventions at General Hospital Odan were planned before the end of the current project cycle in March.
Describing the X-ray machine as “a gift of health and a tool to save lives,” the senator also pledged an additional ₦1 billion towards upgrading facilities at the hospital. He said the investment would enhance infrastructure, improve patient care and help sustain the hospital’s reputation as a centre of excellence. He commended the Lagos State Government for prioritising healthcare and praised the NPA for its collaboration.
In his remarks, Prof. Abayomi described General Hospital Odan as the flagship and one of the oldest general hospitals in Nigeria, noting that it remained a focal point of the state’s health infrastructure renewal drive. He said access to functional diagnostic equipment was critical to effective patient care, adding that the new X-ray machine would significantly reduce referrals outside the hospital.
The commissioner thanked Senator Eshinlokun for investing in the health sector, saying the intervention had eased pressure on the facility and its personnel, while his proposed projects reflected strong commitment to public service.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, said the commissioning underscored the state government’s resolve to prioritise health at the start of the year. She described General Hospital Odan as a historic institution and stressed that healthcare delivery required partnerships beyond government.
Representing the NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Malam Ali Garba Bichi said the Authority was pleased to support an initiative that would directly enhance patient care and diagnostic services, urging hospital management to ensure optimal use of the equipment.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that modern diagnostic tools were essential for accurate diagnosis and improved health outcomes.
Earlier, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olatunde Bakare, said the new X-ray machine marked a milestone in improving diagnostic efficiency, assuring that it would be properly utilised and maintained.
In his closing remarks, the Director of Radiology, Dr. Tope Akintomide, recalled that General Hospital Odan-Lagos housed Nigeria’s first X-ray machine in 1913, describing the new installation as a historic restoration that would improve patient care and strengthen training and accreditation for radiologists.
