Concessionaire: Why Bayelsa Diagnostics Centre Was Shut Down

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Concessionaire of the Bayelsa State Diagnostic Centre, Trigen-Craton Limited, have exonerated former state Governor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, of allegations by an amorphous group that he established the world class medical facility with the intent  to destroy it at the end of his administration.

The Operations Manager of Trigen-Craton Ltd, Malcom Okiebai said in a statement on Tuesday that there was no iota of truth in the allegations involving the equipment at the Centre.

Okiebai said all the equipment procured by the state government under Dickson are in good condition and safe.

He called on the public to discountenance the claim that equipment worth billions of naira were taken away from the Centre.

The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Integrity Group had called on Dickson and the state Governor, Douye Diri, to explain their role in the collapse of the multi-billion naira Diagnostic Centre.

The group in a statement issued by its Chairman, Preye Perez, alleged that Dickson set up the facility to fail and to temporarily satisfy himself and some selfish interests.

They enjoined members of the public to compel Dickson to explain the circumstances behind the closure of the facility and also called on anti-corruption agencies to carry out a discreet investigation.

At inception 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.

But the Centre, which was described by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a world class, went into oblivion immediately Governor Diri took over government from his predecessor and mentor, Dickson, now a senator.

Okiebai recalled that the terms of the concession was that 60 percent of the profit was meant for the firm once the Centre became profitable to provide effective running of the outfit.

He stated further that: “Thirty percent would go to the Bayelsa State Government and 10 percent in a joint account for routine maintenance and repairs.

 “We wish to state for emphasis that all equipment purchased by the state government are safe and intact; that all the equipment purchased were fully paid for even before the inauguration 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 Centre be reopened in the state and across the country as a reputable diagnostic centre with partners abroad. We state that as soon as the outstanding issues are sorted out, we hope to resume operations.

“Lastly, we call on the public to ignore the falsehood being peddled by mischievous and faceless characters about the Diagnostic Centre.”

The firms operational manager explained that the Centre was shut down because it could not get subventions from the state government to sustain the services to the public

He stressed that the initial arrangement between the government and the firm ran into hitches as the centre could not generate enough funds to cover the huge cost of operations.