CLAIM: Tinubu Did Not Build Any Hospital During Tenure as Lagos Governor
A trending claim on X says that Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu who is an ex-governor of Lagos state did not build any hospital during his tenure.The post retweets a Daily Champion news report, with the headlines: “Lagos set to inaugurate first General Hospital in decades” and the quote: “So Tinubu no build any hospital”
As of the time this report was published, the post had over 117,100 views. In the comment section, @theboyisgreat said “You mean that druggie scam ..”, while @jqcouture wrote “Bro all this na lie 😂 even the least local government in Lagos has a general hospital and health center”.
VERIFICATION
Did Tinubu Build Hospitals In Lagos When He Was Governor?
Under Tinubu’s administration, between 1999 to 2007, significant efforts were made to enhance healthcare infrastructure across the state. Tinubu’s government established approximately 50 PHCs, aiming to ensure that every ward in Lagos State had access to primary healthcare services. The administration also focused on expanding secondary healthcare facilities by adding some general hospitals which are: Ajeromi general hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, Alimosho General Hospital, and Somolu General Hospital.
Is Lagos Set To Inaugurate Its First General Hospital In Decades?
Multiple news reports have confirmed that the Lagos State government is set to inaugurate a new 280-bed multi-specialist General Hospital in Ojo Local Government Area by December 2025. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a working visit to the facility in January 2025, expressed optimism about the project’s completion by year’s end. He highlighted that the hospital spans over six hectares and will offer comprehensive healthcare services, including outpatient care, medical diagnostics, accident and emergency services, and other specialties.
The most recent before this anticipated inauguration is the Femi Gbajabiamila General Hospital which was handed over to and commissioned by the Lagos State government in January 2024. Located in the Surulere area, this 80-bed facility including a pediatrics unit and a dialysis center was facilitated by Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, before it was handed over to the Lagos state government for management.
Research revealed that the Gbagada general hospital was renovated and commissioned in March 2015 by a former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, to provide comprehensive treatment to patients with kidney disease. On February 4, 2010, Babatunde Fashola also expanded and commissioned facilities at the General hospital, Ikorodu. In January 2021, two major projects were commissioned at the Badagry general hospital, and the reconstruction of the hospital was flagged off, by governor Sanwo Olu, indicating ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure in the area.
CONCLUSION
The claims that Lagos state is about to inaugurate its first general hospital in decades and Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu who is an ex-governor of the state never built a hospital during his tenure are MISLEADING. Findings revealed that President Tinubu built general hospitals during his tenure as Lagos governor and while the state has not constructed any general hospital in over a decade, it has renovated and commissioned several general hospitals.
