Niger Governor Bago has declared emergency over Minna hospital’s poor state and unsafe conditions.
Plans are underway for phased demolition and reconstruction to improve healthcare across the state.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has declared a state of emergency at the General Hospital in Minna due to its severely deteriorated condition and its inability to meet the healthcare needs of the state’s growing population. This declaration was made during the weekly State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, as stated in a release on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso.
The hospital, which has served residents for over 50 years, is set to undergo complete demolition and phased reconstruction after a formal assessment team is established. Governor Bago noted that the current state of the hospital was both outdated and dangerous, emphasizing that decades of neglect had left the infrastructure unfit for modern medical care.
“This hospital has been overstretched for many years,” the governor said. “Its current condition poses a serious challenge to effective healthcare delivery, not just in the capital, but across the state.”
The state government has constituted a committee of special advisers and relevant stakeholders to evaluate the facility and recommend actionable steps. Based on their input, plans are now underway to demolish existing structures and build new wards and units in phases.
To ensure continuity of care during the reconstruction period, essential medical services will be temporarily relocated to selected primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the state. The governor assured residents that critical departments would remain functional throughout the transition.
Recalling a personal experience, Governor Bago said he had once sat on a bench in the hospital’s eye center that had been there since his childhood. “We have to be honest with ourselves. The facility, in its present condition, can no longer serve its purpose. It is outdated, overstretched, and unsafe,” he stressed.
The decision forms part of a larger state-wide healthcare reform agenda under Governor Bago’s administration. The aim is to create a modern and efficient healthcare system that guarantees access to quality medical services for every resident of Niger State.
“Our administration is committed to building systems that work,” Bago said. “Health is a priority, and we want citizens to feel the impact of governance through tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.”
Governor Bago also reiterated the state’s recent agricultural success, referencing that Niger State generated over ₦600 billion from agriculture in 2024, further reinforcing the need to channel resources into human capital development such as health.
He concluded by reassuring the public that the government would do everything possible to minimize disruption, maintain access to essential services, and deliver a state-of-the-art medical facility that meets the demands of a modern healthcare system.
