The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, has declared a state of emergency on the General Hospital in Minna, describing the over 50-year-old facility as outdated, overstretched, and unfit for modern healthcare needs.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Minna, the Special Adviser to the governor on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, said that the governor made the declaration during the weekly State Executive Council meeting.
According to Wakaso, the Governor Bago said the hospital’s current condition poses a major challenge to delivering effective medical services to the state’s rapidly growing population.
“The hospital has been overstretched for many years. It is outdated, unsafe, and no longer able to serve its intended purpose,” the governor said.
A committee has been set up to assess the hospital and recommend solutions. Based on their findings, the state plans to demolish the existing structure and rebuild it in phases with modern units and wards.
To ensure that essential services are not interrupted, key departments will be temporarily relocated to selected primary healthcare centres across the state during the reconstruction.
Governor Bago shared a personal story, recalling that the bench he sat on during a recent visit to the hospital’s eye centre had been there since his childhood—highlighting how little had changed at the facility over the decades.
“This is part of a broader plan to overhaul the entire healthcare system in Niger State,” he added. “We are committed to building modern and efficient health services that reflect our vision for a healthier future.”
The governor assured residents that every effort would be made to minimise disruptions during the rebuilding process and to ensure continued access to vital healthcare services.