Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has donated a new radiology X-ray machine to the General Hospital, Odan-Lagos, boosting the diagnostic capacity of one of Nigeria’s oldest public healthcare facilities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Eshinlokun, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, said the donation was aimed at improving healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.
He described the X-ray machine as “a gift of health and a tool to save lives,” and pledged an additional ₦1 billion for the upgrade of facilities at the hospital.
According to him, the investment would enhance infrastructure, improve patient care and help sustain the hospital’s status as a model of excellence.
The senator also disclosed that more interventions were being planned for the hospital before the end of the current project cycle in March.
Eshinlokun said sustained engagement with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and discussions with the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had led to agreed interventions across the health sector.
He announced that two new primary healthcare centres in Ojo-Giwa and Itire-Ikate had been approved, with designs completed and contracts already awarded.
The lawmaker added that the projects would further strengthen collaboration between the ministry and local governments.
Eshinlokun commended the Lagos State Government for prioritizing healthcare and praised the NPA for partnering to strengthen the state’s health sector.
The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, said the authority was pleased to support an initiative that would directly improve patient care and diagnostic services at the hospital.
Dantsoho, who was represented by Ali Bichi, said the intervention would benefit not only Lagos Island but the entire state.
He urged the hospital management to ensure the effective use of the equipment for patients’ benefit and wished the state and the facility continued success in service delivery.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described General Hospital Odan-Lagos as the flagship and one of the oldest general hospitals in Nigeria.
Abayomi said the hospital remained a priority under the state’s health infrastructure renewal drive and was undergoing continuous upgrades in line with Lagos State’s vision to lead in healthcare delivery.
He praised Eshinlokun for investing in a critical sector, noting that access to functional diagnostic equipment such as X-ray machines was essential for effective patient care.
The commissioner added that doctors were often compelled to refer patients outside the hospital for imaging, a challenge the new machine would significantly reduce.
According to him, the intervention would ease pressure on the facility and its personnel, adding that Eshinlokun’s proposed health projects reflected uncommon generosity and commitment to public service.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, said improved healthcare delivery required strategic partnerships beyond government efforts.
Ogunyemi commended Eshinlokun and the NPA, saying the collaboration demonstrated how collective action could translate into tangible benefits for residents.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr Abimbola Mabogunje, described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that modern diagnostic equipment was vital to accurate diagnosis and improved health outcomes.
Mabogunje assured that the commission would continue to support initiatives aligned with the state’s vision of people-centred healthcare delivery.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olatunde Bakare, said the inauguration marked a major milestone in improving the hospital’s diagnostic capacity and service efficiency.
Bakare noted that radiological services were critical to timely clinical decision-making and patient management.
He thanked the donor and partners, assuring that the equipment would be properly maintained and optimally utilized, while calling for sustained support to ensure reliable infrastructure for advanced medical technology.
Also speaking, the Director of Radiology, Dr Tope Akintomide, recalled that General Hospital Odan-Lagos housed Nigeria’s first X-ray machine in 1913.
Akintomide said the new equipment would enhance patient care and strengthen residency training and accreditation for future radiologists.
He commended the government, donors and hospital management, saying the intervention had restored hope and capacity within the department and positioned the hospital for a stronger future in diagnostic medicine.
