How FMC Ebute Metta Became Nigeria’s Most Transformed Federal Hospital Without a Single Strike in 8 Years

How FMC Ebute Metta Became Nigeria’s Most Transformed Federal Hospital Without a Single Strike in 8 Years

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos, has achieved what many public health institutions in Nigeria struggle with—eight years of uninterrupted service with zero internal strikes.

Under the transformative leadership of outgoing Medical Director Dr. Adedamola Dada, FMC Ebute Metta has evolved from a 72-bed facility into a 450-bed, tech-driven tertiary hospital. The hospital recently attained SafeCare Level Four accreditation and now stands as a national model of healthcare delivery.

Speaking at a media parley organized to celebrate the centre’s milestones, Dr. Dada emphasized that the hospital’s success was not by chance.

“This is not a miracle,” he said. “It’s about planning, teamwork and a commitment to do the right thing.”

Dr. Dada’s tenure, spanning two terms, was marked by bold decisions, innovation and dedication, especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests. While other hospitals struggled or shut down, FMC opened a COVID-19 centre that treated both the public and its own staff.

“We opened a COVID centre because our staff was getting infected,” he recalled. “In no time, our institution became a very popular COVID centre.”

The hospital was the only one in Lagos producing its own oxygen supply during the height of the pandemic, distributing it freely to meet growing demand. Staff camped on-site during lockdowns, and Dr. Dada himself slept in his office to maintain operations.

From two theatres in 2016, the hospital now boasts 12, alongside a 16-bed intensive care unit (ICU), and a cancer centre described by Dr. Dada as “potentially the best in West Africa.”

FMC Ebute Metta also became the first federal hospital in Nigeria to go fully digital. Patients now use ATM-style cards for payments and access to medical records, while the Treasury Single Account (TSA) ensures transparency.

Dr. Dada placed heavy emphasis on staff development, training personnel in critical areas like managing aggressive patients, breaking bad news and caring for the deceased. To address the brain drain crisis (popularly called “japa syndrome”), FMC retained retired consultants and nurses to stabilize services.

“Every department now has retired professionals who form a solid base,” he said.

This strategy helped maintain institutional memory and ensured consistent service delivery. The result? Not a single internal strike in eight years.

FMC’s partnership with SafeCare led to a significant upgrade in infrastructure. Every hospital bed now comes with oxygen access and real-time vital sign monitoring systems.

Dr. Dada also revealed that the hospital spends over N20 million monthly to cover the shortfall in public electricity supply—enough for only three hours a day—forcing the hospital to burn 80,000 litres of diesel monthly to keep critical services running.

Despite limited funding, FMC expanded and innovated without private partnerships.

“It’s not about having all the money, it’s about managing what you have well,” he stated.

The Ministry of Budget and National Planning recognized the hospital’s financial discipline, with former Minister Clem Agba commending its efficiency as a national benchmark.

Beyond its walls, FMC has mentored over 50 hospitals across Nigeria and is now a training hub for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The hospital also features in a case study at Lagos Business School’s Health Management Programme.

When asked about his proudest accomplishment, Dr. Dada responded:

“The fact that we’ve exported some of our best practices to other hospitals free of charge. We offer training, no fees, just a requirement to meet our standards.”

He attributed FMC’s success to collective ownership of the vision.

“It’s never been a one-man riot squad. The staff bought into the vision.”

As he prepares to pursue a master’s degree in a field outside medicine, Dr. Dada continues his routine walk-through of the hospital, from wards to the mortuary.“

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That’s how I audit, not to punish, but to improve.”

Currently, FMC Ebute Metta sees up to 30,000 patients monthly, including 5,000 new registrations. A new cancer centre is ready for commissioning, and vertical expansion is underway to meet the surging demand.

For many, FMC Ebute Metta is no longer just another federal hospital—it is a living example of what’s possible when vision meets discipline and teamwork.

“If we can do it here,” Dr. Dada said, “it can be replicated across Nigeria.”