Health
THE Concessionaire of the Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre, Trigen-Craton Ltd, built by immediate past administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, has said the centre was shut down because it could not get subventions from the State Government to sustain the services to the public after the outbreak of COVID-19.
He also exonerated former Governor Dickson of allegations that he established the world class medical facility with the intent to destroy it at the end of his administration, stating that all equipment at the centre are intact and in good shape to function when the centre begins operation again.
The Concessionaire also stated that the equipment procured by the state government under The administration of Senator Seriake Dickson for the center are in good condition and safe.
Okiebai recalled that at inception of the centre in 2016, Concessionaire was given the mandate to maintain the world-class equipment, provide international skilled personnel for the Centre with the task of managing it.
He stated that the terms of the concession was that sixty percent (60%) of the profit, was meant for the firm once the center became profitable to provide effective running of the outfit.
He explained that the deal was for that thirty percent (30%) would go to the Bayelsa State government and ten percent (10%) in a joint account for routine maintenance and repairs.
He said, “We wish to state for emphasis that all equipments 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 center be reopened in bayelsa and across the country as a reputable diagnostic center with partners abroad. We state that as soon as the outstanding issues are sorted out, we hope to resume operations.
“Lastly, we call on general public to ignore the falsehood being peddled by mischievous and faceless characters about the diagnostic center.
“We ran the center 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 require 24-hour constant electricity.
“Providing constant power, training of skilled personnel and maintaining the facility since 2016 had taken a huge toll on our personal finances and we made a request to the former governor for support, in the form of the running cost, until the center became profitable, a development not anticipated in the original concession agreement.
“The original concession agreement assumed that the center would be profitable on start of operation; however we did not take into consideration that, like every other business, the centre needed time to stabilize and become profitable. Realizing this, we made a case to the former governor who encouraged us to continue, and that the expenses we would incur would be reimbursed.”
-Daily Trust
KN
Tags: Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre Covid-19 Seriake Dickson Trigen-Craton Ltd
