The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu, on Thursday, said that the rising cost of diesel from N600 to N730 per litre is threatening the survival of the tertiary institution.
Musa -Olomu said this at a free medical outreach organized by the hospital for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, held at the Press Centre, Iwe Irohin, Abeokuta.
Those who spoke at the event held at Iwe Iroyin House expressed their gratitude to the Medical Director for his thoughtful gesture.
The MD disclosed that the hospital spent an average of N44 million on the purchase of diesel to run the hospital.
Musa-Olomu urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the power sector of the country, considering the rising cost of diesel
“Government needs to declare a state-of-emergency on energy in tertiary institutions if they want us to carry on, it is just very necessary.
“In FMC, Abeokuta, we use N5million worth of diesel every two weeks that comes that to N10million in a month, but suddenly the thing (diesel) jumped to N22million (every two weeks) and come to N44million in a month. So, how are we going to cope?
“We know from our experience over the years that quite a lot of people can get lost in their professions and forget to take care of themselves, especially journalists.
“Journalists are always searching for news and with that enthusiasm, they can lost in their profession and forget to monitor their health. That is why we are organising this outreach to call their attention to it that it is necessary that they check their health status,” he said.