Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his efforts in addressing security challenges and improving healthcare in the state. According to Mohammed, the President responded effectively when Bauchi State was facing a serious banditry threat. He made these remarks while hosting the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, at the Bauchi Government House.
Mohammed, who is the Bauchi South senatorial candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (AMP), expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its partnership with Bauchi State, particularly in sectors where the state needed additional support. He noted that the state was getting more revenue and was using it to augment healthcare services. The governor also appreciated the President for establishing two Army formations in Bauchi: one in Alkaleri and another in Tafawa Balewa, which helped to address the banditry threat.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Med-Serve, has completed 10 world-class radiodiagnostic centres across the country within two years, with Bauchi hosting the first inauguration. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the centres were aimed at expanding healthcare infrastructure and diagnostic capacity in the country. He added that the Bauchi centre was the first of the 10 facilities to be commissioned.
Pate further stated that the Federal Government had also completed three world-class cancer centres, while preparations were underway for six major multi-speciality hospitals, with one planned for each geopolitical zone. The investments were aimed at bringing advanced medical services closer to Nigerians and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to access specialised diagnosis and treatment.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the Bauchi diagnostic centre demonstrated how the Federal Government’s economic reforms could translate into tangible improvements in healthcare and infrastructure. He noted that cooperation between the Federal and state governments remained important to achieving better healthcare and infrastructure. Oyedele also acknowledged the cooperation of the Bauchi State government in the successful completion of the project.
Mohammed emphasized that political differences should not stand in the way of services that benefit citizens, particularly in healthcare and education. He noted that the Federal Government’s healthcare investment would improve access to specialised services. The governor expressed appreciation for the President’s support, saying that he had done so many things for Bauchi, especially in the area of security.
The project is a testament to the collaboration between the Federal and state governments, with the Bauchi State government playing a crucial role in the successful completion of the project. The radiodiagnostic centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) is expected to provide high-quality health facilities that were previously absent in the state.
Key points
- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been credited with improving security and healthcare in Bauchi State.
- The Federal Government has completed 10 world-class radiodiagnostic centres across the country.
- The investments in healthcare infrastructure aim to bring advanced medical services closer to Nigerians.
