In a bid to strengthen mental healthcare delivery and curb drug addiction in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially commissioned the upgraded 100-bed Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, Governor Fubara disclosed that the intervention was born out of a site visit during which he observed the dilapidated state of the facility and the rising challenge of substance abuse in the state.
According to the governor, the hospital, which was originally conceived in 1970 and commissioned in 1977 with a 50-bed capacity, had deteriorated over the decades into an unsecured environment prone to illicit drug trafficking.
“This project was conceived out of a challenge. The CMD invited me to come and see what he was doing with the little overhead he was collecting. So, on that site visit, I saw what he was doing, and I was challenged,” Governor Fubara stated. “How could a state like this be struggling to build a rehabilitation centre of less than 20 rooms because of the issue of substance abuse?”
He noted that the newly reconstructed facility features a 100-bed rehabilitation unit, perimeter fencing and controlled access points designed to secure the environment and eliminate illicit activities on the premises.
The governor highlighted unemployment and social pressures as key triggers for mental health struggles and addiction, emphasising the need for structured rehabilitation centres to restore affected individuals to normalcy.
“Substance abuse is not always deliberate; circumstances drive most people into it… unemployment or other psychological issues. What we have done here is prepare for the current challenges of our time,” Fubara added.
Addressing the host community and traditional leadership, Fubara urged residents to take ownership of the multi-million-naira infrastructure and safeguard it against vandalism.
“Take ownership of this project. Ensure that it is protected, because you are its direct beneficiaries. Do not look at it as merely a ‘government project’ — it is in your domain,” he charged.
Delivering the keynote address as the Special Guest of Honour, the outgoing President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, commended the state government for prioritising mental health, a sector he noted is frequently neglected and stigmatised in the country.
Osigwe stressed that mental healthcare facilities are essential for all citizens facing societal pressures, urging the public to stop the stigmatisation of people with mental health conditions.
“Mental healthcare is not just for those traditionally labelled as ‘mad’. Every day, people face severe stress, financial pressure, domestic struggles and professional burdens. We must dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and make this facility a haven where anyone can seek help and find relief,” Osigwe said.
He further observed that expanding specialised healthcare infrastructure in Rivers State would significantly curtail medical tourism and capital flight.
“Citizens must have accessible healthcare. Modernising facilities like this prevents disease, guarantees proper care, delivers emergency services and fosters community strength. Moreover, it prevents capital flight by ensuring conditions that previously required medical travel are now treated right here in Rivers State,” the NBA president noted.
The ceremony was attended by top government functionaries, including Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma-Odu, former Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru, traditional rulers and members of the leadership of the state’s medical board.