By KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja
The Chief of Administration, Nigeria Army, Major General BS Usara has explained that the seeming slow pace of work at the 44 Nigeria Army Referral Hospital in Kaduna, was as a result of the decision of the Force to complete the Radiology department of the hospital because it has the potential of generating funds that would be ploughed back into completing other parts of the hospital.

According to General Usara, “When Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika assumed office as the COAS, he set up a committee to look into how the project will be completed in the face of daunting financial shortcomings that was brought to bear on the army by the Boko Haram and other security challenges facing the nation. Moreover, the issue of shortage barracks accommodation is a priority of the Chief.

“What the Committee therefore did was that it recommended that the construction of the hospital which needed a huge amount of money to complete should be divided into three phases. The first was completion of the Radiology department; second was completion of the external works including installation of furniture and the third phase will be equipping the hospital with all the specialized equipment for the various departments”.

Disclosing that already the external works of the hospital is about 90% completed, Usara said water reticulation, power supply, roofing and internal air-conditioning systems have been put in place and that before the end of this month, engineers from General Electric of American would commence the installation of the Radiography equipment. So those insinuating the project has been abandoned are misinformed”.

Also, the chief consultant of 44 Referral hospital in Kaduna , Yahaya Mohammed confirmed that the level ‘4’ hospital meant to cater for wounded Nigeria army personnel in battle theatres either in internal security operations or foreign peacekeeping operations, has not been abandoned as over 90 percent of the project has been completed.

“The reconstruction of the project has not been abandoned. The truth is that work has been going on progressively but internally because we are at the point of finishing now which does not need rushing”, Mohammed said.