FIC Report (Edo State) – The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Professor Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu, has announced substantial progress in the hospital’s operations within her first 180 days in office. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including strikes, mounting operational costs, and financial debts, UBTH has made notable strides in Patient care, Staff training, and Institutional development.
During a Press briefing on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Prof. Ize-Iyamu highlighted that the hospital’s achievements reflect a resilient commitment to serving the Community and improving Health care delivery. She acknowledged that the milestones were reached amid significant challenges, such as owed payments to medical suppliers, oxygen providers, and other critical vendors.
The CMD disclosed that the hospital currently faces a monthly electricity bill exceeding N130 million, alongside a wage bill for over 2,000 outsourced staff, underscoring the Financial and Infrastructural strains confronting the Institution. She also noted that a nationwide strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU), which began in November 2025, severely impacted UBTH’s operational capacity, reducing full functionality to only two of the six months under review.
Despite these setbacks, Prof. Ize-Iyamu emphasized that the hospital made measurable progress through strategic management, Staff dedication, and resilience. She listed key achievements including advances in clinical excellence, expansion of healthcare coverage, capacity building, infrastructure upgrades, Community engagement, revenue enhancement, and partnership development. The hospital also recruited over 400 new staff members to bolster its human resource capacity.
Furthermore, UBTH secured external support and continued to provide essential health services, including cancer treatment, emergency cesarean sections, and dialysis, under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for health. The CMD expressed optimism that, with ongoing efforts, the hospital will sustain its trajectory of growth and service improvement despite the ongoing operational challenges
Signed
Egwaoje Amarachi Linda
ACI&PRO, FIC Benin
February 24th, 2026.
