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Kaduna State Begins Extensive Overhaul of Nine Hospitals Abandoned for Two Decades
The Kaduna State Government has launched an ambitious project to reconstruct, remodel, and equip nine general hospitals that have been neglected and left without renovation for over 20 years. This initiative aims to revitalize healthcare infrastructure across the state.
Dr. Ahmed Abdullahi, the Acting Special Adviser to Governor Uba Sani on Project Monitoring, Implementation, and Results Delivery, announced the development in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna. He emphasized that the project is a significant step towards improving healthcare services in the state.
The hospitals targeted for renovation are strategically located across the state’s three senatorial zones. In zone one, the hospitals include General Hospital Ikara, General Hospital Maigana in Soba LGA, and General Hospital Saminaka in Lere LGA. Zone two features General Hospital Rigasa in Igabi LGA, General Hospital Giwa in Giwa LGA, and General Hospital Sabon Tasha in Chikun LGA. In zone three, the hospitals being upgraded are General Hospital Gwantu in Sanga LGA, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Hospital in Kafanchan, Jema’a LGA, and General Hospital Kachia in Kachia LGA.
Abdullahi highlighted that the central focus of this transformative effort is the General Hospital in Maigana, Soba Local Government Area, which is undergoing a comprehensive overhaul. He noted that this hospital’s renovation is expected to serve as a model for upgrading healthcare infrastructure across the state.
“Under the visionary leadership of Senator Uba Sani, the state administration has committed to upgrading these long-neglected healthcare facilities,” Abdullahi stated. “The ongoing transformation of the General Hospital in Maigana exemplifies our efforts to enhance the quality of healthcare and improve service delivery throughout Kaduna State.”
The initiative carefully selected three hospitals from each senatorial zone to ensure equitable distribution of benefits. Abdullahi underscored that this strategic selection reflects Governor Sani’s commitment to equitable leadership and balanced healthcare development across the state, addressing long-standing disparities in access to quality healthcare.
The project involves not only physical renovations but also the installation of modern medical technology and resources essential for delivering high-quality healthcare services. This comprehensive approach is expected to significantly improve patient care and outcomes, ensuring that residents of Kaduna State have access to the medical services they require.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that more hospitals across other local government areas are scheduled for similar remodeling, reconstruction, and equipping to further enhance healthcare across Kaduna State.
As these projects progress, the Kaduna State Government remains committed to transparency and community engagement, ensuring the public is kept informed and involved in the transformation of their healthcare facilities.
“This initiative represents a major advancement in rebuilding and strengthening Kaduna’s healthcare system, ultimately leading to a healthier and more resilient population,” the statement concluded.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed all four emirates in the state to begin preparations for the upcoming Sallah Durbar Celebration.
The governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed this in a statement, emphasizing that the event is a cherished tradition where citizens gather to witness Emirs on horseback and celebrate in grand style.
Tofa assured that security agencies will be fully engaged to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors during the festivities.
Governor Yusuf also praised the Emirs for maintaining a harmonious relationship since their appointments, describing it as unprecedented in Kano’s history.
Additionally, the Kano State Emirate Council is set to be inaugurated in April. The governor stated that its operational guidelines and ethics would be outlined on the inauguration day.
Impeached Governors in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and state lawmakers over the ongoing political crisis, there were already moves to impeach Fubara.
Had he been impeached, Fubara would have joined a list of Nigerian governors removed from office since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. Below is a list of impeached governors and the circumstances surrounding their removal:
1. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (Bayelsa State, 2005)
Alamieyeseigha was Bayelsa’s first civilian governor in the Fourth Republic, elected in 1999 and reelected in 2003. However, in 2005, he was impeached over allegations of corruption, including theft of public funds and money laundering. Two years later, he pleaded guilty to six charges and was sentenced to prison.
2. Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo State, 2006)
Ladoja governed Oyo State from 2003 until January 2006, when state lawmakers impeached him. Christopher Alao-Akala was sworn in as his replacement. However, Ladoja was reinstated in December 2006 after a court ruling nullified his removal. He later claimed his impeachment was due to his opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid.
3. Ayo Fayose (Ekiti State, 2006)
Fayose, elected in 2003, was impeached in 2006 alongside his deputy, Biodun Olujimi, over allegations of corruption, including embezzling funds meant for the state’s poultry project. Twenty-four out of 26 lawmakers voted for their removal. Although Fayose fled at the time, he later returned and contested again. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that his impeachment was unlawful.
4. Peter Obi (Anambra State, 2006)
Peter Obi, who later became the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, was impeached just six months into his tenure as Anambra governor. He claimed he was removed for refusing to inflate the state budget. He challenged his impeachment in court and won, returning to office in February 2007.
5. Joshua Dariye (Plateau State, 2006)
Dariye faced impeachment proceedings in October 2006 after being linked to money laundering. Only eight out of 24 lawmakers initially issued an impeachment notice, which he contested. However, the following month, he was removed, and his deputy, Michael Botmang, took over. The Supreme Court later reinstated him, but his tenure ended in 2007. That same year, the EFCC accused him of diverting N1 billion in state ecological funds.
6. Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State, 2014)
Nyako was removed in 2014 over allegations of misappropriating N17 billion, illegal salary deductions, and misusing local government funds. He and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, received impeachment notices in June 2014, and a month later, he was removed from office. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the state’s house speaker at the time, was sworn in as acting governor.
These impeachments highlight the political turbulence that has shaped Nigeria’s democratic governance over the years.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “unconstitutional and reckless.”
In a statement on Wednesday via X, Obi accused Tinubu of undermining democracy and disregarding the rule of law. He described the move as a dangerous attempt to tighten control over the state.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs,” Obi stated.
He further argued that the political crisis in Rivers does not justify suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers. Obi accused the federal government of selectively interpreting Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution to serve its own interests.
“A state of emergency does not mean an elected Governor can be removed unilaterally. This decision does not align with democratic norms or good governance. Instead, it appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria,” he said.
Obi warned that the move could set a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. He also linked it to previous electoral irregularities, stating that such actions would push Nigeria toward lawlessness and anarchy.
He urged the National Assembly and other stakeholders to reject the emergency declaration, emphasizing that allowing it to stand would deepen the culture of impunity and weaken democratic institutions.
Kano gov approves Sallah durbar preparations for emirates
Nigerian governors that have been impeached since 1999
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