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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Concessionaire of the Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre, Trigen-Craton Ltd, has exonerated former Governor of the State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, of allegations by a group that he established the world class medical facility with the intent to destroy it at the end of his administration.
The Operations Manager of Trigen-Craton Ltd, Malcom Okiebai said in a statement on Tuesday said there was no iota of truth in the allegations involving the equipment at the Diagnostic Centre.
Okiebai said all the equipment procured by the state government under Dickson’s administration are in good condition and safe.
He called on the public to discountenance the claim that equipment worth billions of naira were taken away from the Diagnostic Centre.
Okiebai explained that it was shut down because it could not get subventions from the state government to sustain the services to the public
He stressed that the initial arrangement between the government and the firm ran into hitches as the centre could not generate enough funds to cover the huge cost of operations.
“We wish to state for emphasis that all equipment purchased by the state government are safe and intact; that all the equipment purchased were fully paid for even before the commissioning and commencement of operations and are still top class equipment several years after their purchase. In fact most of the equipment purchased were the first of its kind in Nigeria at the time.
“We understand the public interest that the Diagnostic Centre be reopened in Bayelsa and across the country as a reputable diagnostic centre with partners abroad. We state that as soon as the outstanding issues are sorted out, we hope to resume operations.
“Lastly, we call on the general public to ignore the falsehood being peddled by mischievous and faceless characters about the diagnostic centre.”
“The Center became a place of medical tourism and during this period, we received no subvention or support funds from the Government of Bayelsa State. This took a heavy toll on us as the Centre in the first few years could not become profitable and as such the profit sharing term could not apply.
“We ran the Centre from August 2016 to May 5th 2020 at our own cost, as the revenues could not sustain the running cost of the facility, especially the high cost of maintaining power non-stop, as the sensitive equipment required 24-hour constant electricity.”
Okiebai disclosed that Governor Douye Diri has made his intentions known to have the place reopened and the deputy-governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo is the Chairman of the steering committee working towards its reopening with the concessionaires and representatives of the Bayelsa State government carrying joint stocktaking to ascertain the status of the equipment at the centre.
