AfriPulse
The Ondo State Government has approved the transfer of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital complex in Akure to the Federal Government for use as the College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
The decision, ratified at the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting chaired by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will see the state-owned facility provide core infrastructure for FUTA’s newly approved medical college and teaching hospital.
Briefing journalists after the SEC meeting, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, said the transfer became necessary following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for FUTA to establish its own medical college.
Ajaka explained that the handover would involve a full transfer of assets and staff, adding that all hospital employees would be absorbed by the federal management.
“The handover includes the transfer of staff, infrastructure, equipment, and liabilities. All employees will be absorbed into FUTA Teaching Hospital under the Federal Government,” he said.
“This development will strengthen healthcare delivery in Ondo State while advancing FUTA’s ambition to become a leading centre for medical sciences in Nigeria.”
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, also announced that each cabinet member has been directed to nominate a road project in their respective local council areas as part of efforts to promote equitable development across the state.
“These roads are outside the 2025 budgeted projects. They are supplementary interventions aimed at improving connectivity and directly impacting communities,” Ajanaku said, stressing that the initiative is not for private or partisan interests.
In addition, Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Leye Akinola, revealed new measures to protect farmers from the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which prohibits the importation of crops grown on deforested land.
He said the state would adopt agroforestry practices in selected forest areas, enforce strict mapping and traceability systems, and support farmers with permits to continue operations.
“By December 30, 2025, any crop that cannot be traced to a mapped farm risks rejection in the EU market. To safeguard livelihoods, the state will support farm mapping and grant farmers permits to continue operations,” Akinola said.
The council also approved a review of tariffs on agricultural produce and timber across the value chain to align Ondo with other Southwest states under the DAWN Commission framework.
Source: Guardian Nigeria | Read the Full Story…
