The Chief Executive Officer of Air Separation Engineering Ltd., Sosan Akpieyi, has commended the Federal Ministry of Health, donor agencies, and state ministries for their sustained efforts and significant investments in strengthening Nigeria’s oxygen ecosystem.
Akpieyi disclosed this in an interview, expressing satisfaction with the level of commitment demonstrated toward ensuring the success of the investments. He noted that the expansion of oxygen infrastructure across public health facilities marks a major step forward for the country’s healthcare system.
He cautioned, however, that government-owned health facilities must balance their public health responsibilities with long-term sustainability. According to him, achieving sustainability requires adopting a business-oriented mindset, an approach that public institutions have historically struggled to maintain. With recent investments enabling hospitals to produce and refill oxygen cylinders locally, facilities now have the opportunity to supply oxygen to patients at rates that allow for cost recovery and modest revenue generation. Akpieyi stressed that this shift will demand a change in operational thinking and strong institutional commitment.
He emphasized that even where oxygen equipment has been donated, it should be regarded as a long-term investment. “Hospitals must see this as an asset that requires proper management. Recovering operational costs and maintaining a reasonable margin are essential to keeping the systems functional,” he said.
Addressing concerns about production costs, Akpieyi explained that expenses largely depend on the type and capacity of the installed equipment. He stated that his company, a leading supplier of PSA oxygen systems nationwide, has worked to standardize plant sizes to improve efficiency. He added that a 60-cylinder-per-day plant, if properly managed, should be financially viable.
He further advised health facilities to comprehensively document all operational inputs and expenses, which would help them develop accurate pricing templates that reflect true production costs while ensuring affordability and sustainability.
Akpieyi also highlighted the importance of safety as hospitals increasingly engage in oxygen production and cylinder refilling. He stressed that operators must strictly adhere to safety protocols, consistently use protective equipment, and follow established handling procedures to prevent potentially fatal industrial accidents.
By Blessing Bature, Abuja
