A new Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Nnanna Ama, on Monday, assumed office following the promotion of the former CP, Ikioye Orutugu, to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) and his subsequent retirement.

The police public relations officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Awka.

“The Anambra Police Command today announce the assumption of duty of CP Ama, as the new CP in the state.

“CP Ama takes over the leadership of the Command, following the retirement of the immediate past CP who was recently promoted to the rank of AIG, Ikioye Orutugu, before his retirement from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF),” he said.

Mr Ikenga said that the new CP was an experienced and accomplished senior police officer with over three decades of distinguished service in the force.

He said that prior to Ama’s redeployment, he served as CP Intelligence and Training at the Force Intelligence Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, having previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the same office.

The new CP is a native of Ekata in Edda Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State and holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Jos.

Mr Ama started his police career as a Cadet Superintendent of Police and trained at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, before embarking on a wide-ranging career.

Mr Ama’s career in the force includes intelligence, criminal investigation, tactical operations, administration, public relations and strategic command.

The new CP’s previous appointments include DCP, General Investigation, FCID, Abuja; Commanding Officer, Number 44 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Force Headquarters, Abuja; and Area Commander, Nnewi, Anambra.

Other previous appointments were Assistant Commissioner of Police, Homicide, FCID; Zonal CID, Zone 9, Umuahia; Commanding Officer, Number 11 PMF, Calabar; and Divisional Police Officer, Asokoro and Dutse Alhaji in Abuja.

Mr Ama worked as coordinator of courses, Police Detective College, Enugu; Commanding Officer, Number 26 PMF, Uyo; Divisional Crime Officer, Sango Otta, Ogun State; and Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers Police Command, among other strategic posts.

The new CP has also undergone several professional and strategic training programmes both within and outside the country.

Mr Ikenga further said that Ama had been recognised for his professional courage and operational effectiveness, including a commendation award for uncommon bravery, courage and gallantry.

Mr Ama is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Nigeria Psychological Association and Nigeria Institute of Police Studies.

The PPRO quoted Mr Ama as expressing his commitment to consolidating the existing security gains recorded upon assumption of office.

He pledged to strengthen collaboration among the police, other security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, youths, women and other critical stakeholders.

Mr Ama pledged the command’s renewed determination to protect lives and property, prevent and combat crime, uphold the rule of law, and ensure a safe and secure environment for residents, visitors and businesses across the state.

(NAN)

Nigeria’s healthcare sector needs more than additional funding to expand. It needs businesses capable of attracting capital, deploying it effectively and building institutions that can grow sustainably, healthcare stakeholders have said.

That challenge was at the centre of the inaugural First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Healthcare Summit in Lagos, where the bank unveiled a N20 billion Healthcare Fund to support private healthcare businesses.

The fund will provide financing to hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, maternity homes and other businesses across the healthcare value chain.

The summit, themed “Financing Growth: Unlocking Opportunity, Building the Future of Healthcare,” brought together policymakers, healthcare providers, investors, financial institutions and development partners to examine how more private capital can be channelled into Nigeria’s health sector.

At the heart of the discussions was a persistent financing problem: healthcare providers struggle to access affordable, long-term capital, while lenders and investors often require stronger governance, financial reporting and business structures before committing funds.

“Healthcare is a social imperative and an economic priority,” FCMB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Yemisi Edun said in remarks delivered by Executive Director, Corporate Services and Service Management Felicia Obozuwa. “Building a strong healthcare system requires patient, affordable and long-term capital.”

Mrs Edun said financing alone would not be sufficient. Healthcare businesses also need sound governance, capable leadership and strategic partnerships to build resilient institutions.

Through the new fund, FCMB plans to finance infrastructure expansion, medical equipment, working capital, technology adoption and other investments aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.

The push for more private capital comes as the government increases public investment in healthcare and seeks to expand capacity across the sector.

Government investment

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, said more than N339 billion has been disbursed through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund over the past 12 years.

Of that amount, N235 billion was disbursed in the last three years under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, he said.

Mr Salako added that another N32.9 billion was recently disbursed to support more than 8,300 primary healthcare centres, while the government is targeting about 13,000 facilities nationwide.

Beyond healthcare facilities, the government is seeking to increase domestic production of medicines and medical equipment.

Under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, Nigeria is targeting local production of 70 per cent of medicines and medical devices by 2030.

Mr Salako also highlighted initiatives aimed at addressing electricity constraints in healthcare facilities and creating long-term procurement opportunities for local manufacturers.

Making healthcare businesses bankable

For private healthcare operators, however, access to affordable capital remains a major obstacle to expansion.

The President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Njide Ndili, said affordable, long-term financing is one of the biggest barriers facing private healthcare businesses.

She said experience from HFN’s partnership with the PharmAccess Medical Credit Fund demonstrated that healthcare small and medium-sized enterprises could become bankable when financing is combined with technical support, capacity building and quality standards.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply increasing the amount of money available to healthcare providers but ensuring that businesses are prepared to attract and manage investment.

HFN will work with FCMB to develop a framework for pre-qualifying eligible healthcare facilities and helping businesses become investment-ready.

The federation, which has more than 400 member organisations and 4,000 professionals, will support businesses in strengthening governance, financial reporting, management capacity and growth plans before accessing financing.

From survival to scale

Discussions at the summit examined how healthcare operators can move beyond managing day-to-day pressures and build institutions capable of attracting long-term investment.

Participants explored blended finance, alternative lending structures and public-private partnerships as possible mechanisms for attracting more domestic and international capital.

An executive discussion on building healthcare businesses that attract investment also highlighted the importance of sound business management, governance, risk management and clear growth strategies alongside clinical performance.

READ ALSO: FCMB Group sustains performance, reports 99% growth in profit before tax to N157.3bn

Four broad priorities emerged from the discussions: expanding access to fit-for-purpose capital, improving the bankability of healthcare businesses, strengthening public-private partnerships and increasing domestic capacity in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical equipment.

FCMB’s N20 billion fund is positioned within that broader agenda, complementing government investment with private financing for businesses seeking to expand facilities, purchase equipment, adopt technology and improve service delivery.

The summit was organised in partnership with the Health Business Academy for Africa.

For stakeholders, the next challenge is translating the financing commitments and partnerships announced at the summit into stronger healthcare businesses and increased capacity across the sector.

The broader goal is to create a healthcare ecosystem in which stronger institutions, sustainable financing and strategic partnerships translate into greater access to quality healthcare for Nigerians.