By Seyi Odewale
A long-awaited breakthrough in emergency medical response has arrived in Kogi State as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company donated and installed a multi-slice CT scan machine at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.
It was facilitated by the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, accompanied by a dedicated power generator and an advanced imaging suite, is set to transform healthcare delivery across Kogi and neighbouring states by significantly reducing deaths from trauma and other emergencies requiring urgent imaging.
The donation, which fills a critical infrastructure gap in the only functional federal tertiary hospital along the busy North-South transport corridor, was facilitated by Senator Natasha during her tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
Until now, critically ill patients and accident victims had to endure transfers to faraway Abuja or Ilorin for CT scans—a two-to-three-hour journey that often resulted in loss of lives due to delayed diagnosis.
During a visit to inspect the fully installed machine, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan commended the NLNG and its partners for the timely intervention, describing it as a “life-saving milestone” that will drastically improve emergency response and healthcare delivery in the region.
“This is more than a machine—it is a gateway to saving lives, reducing maternal and trauma-related deaths, and restoring dignity to our healthcare system,” she said.
The installation was carried out under the Federal Government’s Human Capital Development and Institutional Strengthening Programme, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and NLNG.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Olatunde Alabi, hailed the donation as transformational:
“This is a game-changer for our hospital, for Kogi State, and for Nigeria at large. We can now respond swiftly to emergencies, support teaching and research, and most importantly—save lives.”
Patricia, one of the hospital’s senior physicians, offered heartfelt gratitude to both NLNG and Senator Natasha:
“In just two weeks, almost every department has benefited from the CT scan. Before now, we referred patients to Abuja or Ilorin—some died on the way. Your efforts have saved lives,” she said.
Speaking directly to the senator, Patricia added, “The Creator of the lives you have touched will continue to protect you. We will always count on your support.”
With five trained radiologists and five radiographers now fully equipped to operate the machine—including one who received advanced training in India—the hospital has instituted a revolving maintenance fund and ongoing personnel development plan to ensure sustainability.
This life-changing donation ends a long, painful chapter for the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja. It marks a new era of accessible, timely, and efficient healthcare for the people of Kogi and surrounding regions—an achievement indelibly tied to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s commitment to service and development.
