The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Foundation has commissioned and officially handed over a newly installed 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano State.
The advanced diagnostic equipment was provided under the NNPC Foundation’s intervention programme as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and expanding access to modern medical infrastructure across Nigeria.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Ms Emmanuella N. Arukwe, explained that the Foundation operates across key thematic areas including healthcare, education, environment, and access to energy.
She noted that the intervention was driven by the urgent need to improve medical diagnosis in Nigeria, describing diagnosis as a critical foundation for effective treatment. According to her, many Nigerians either travel abroad for medical services or are unable to access proper diagnosis locally due to high costs and limited facilities.
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She added that the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala—one of the country’s leading centres for spinal and orthopaedic care and over six decades old—serves patients from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries. She said the hospital’s importance informed the decision to support it with a modern diagnostic tool.
SolaceBase reports that Arukwe further described the installed MRI machine as a 2025-manufactured, AI-enabled system capable of producing highly detailed images for diagnosing a wide range of conditions, including neurological, spinal, gynaecological, and other medical cases. She said the system would significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce treatment delays, and lower the cost of care, especially with supporting infrastructure such as energy efficiency measures.
She also noted that the intervention reflects NNPC Foundation’s broader mandate to deliver impactful social investments, adding that the organisation has gained recognition for its contributions across Africa in areas such as health, education, environment, and energy access.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano, Dr Isa Nuruddeen, described the MRI installation as a major milestone for the institution.
He explained that the hospital, established in 1959, has long faced challenges due to the absence of an MRI machine, forcing patients to travel long distances at high cost for essential imaging services. He noted that the hospital operates the largest spinal centre in Nigeria, where MRI scans are a critical requirement for most cases.
Dr. Nuruddeen said the new facility, being one of the most modern MRI systems in northern Nigeria, would greatly enhance diagnostic efficiency, improve treatment planning, reduce waiting times, and eliminate the need for patients to seek imaging services elsewhere. He also highlighted that the hospital serves not only patients from across Nigeria but also from neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
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He further stated that the donation represents more than equipment provision, describing it as a significant investment in improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. According to him, the facility will support multiple specialities, including orthopaedics, neurology, surgery, paediatrics, and gynaecology.
The CMD also commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as other partners who contributed to the realization of the project, noting that previous efforts by successive hospital administrations to acquire an MRI machine had not materialized due to financial constraints.
He linked the intervention to ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s health sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises improved healthcare infrastructure, reduced medical tourism, and expanded access to quality medical services.
Also speaking at the event, the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, congratulated the management and staff of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, as well as the people of Kano State, on the landmark achievement.
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He noted that the benefits of the new MRI facility would extend beyond the hospital, describing it as a regional asset that would serve not only Kano residents but also patients from neighbouring states and even other countries.
The governor also used the occasion to draw the attention of the NNPC Foundation to an inherited project established by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)—an isolation centre located in Yargaya—which, according to him, has been abandoned for the past four years despite its strategic importance.
He appealed for renewed consideration and support toward completing and revitalising the facility, stressing its significance to public health preparedness and emergency response in the state and beyond.
