The Kebbi State Executive Council has approved the rehabilitation of seven General Hospitals across the state at a total cost of N4.05 billion.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Junaidu Marshall, announced this while addressing journalists after the council’s meeting in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, presided over by Governor Nasir Idris.
Marshall explained that the decision reflects the state government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring hospitals are properly equipped to meet the needs of residents.
He listed the benefiting hospitals to include those of Kambaza, Suru, Kamba, Dirin-Daji, Kangiwa, Koko, and Yauri.
“In addition to these, the Argungu General Hospital has already been rehabilitated and equipped with modern facilities to efficiently serve the people of the area.
“While other hospitals in Zaga, Zuru, Bunza, Gulma, Bena, Jega, Shanga, and Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi are either completed or undergoing rehabilitation,” Marshall confirmed.
According to him, a total of 16 general hospitals have been rehabilitated, in addition to the new approval of the seven hospitals under the administration of Gov. Idris.
The Attorney-General said the governor assured that, before the end of his tenure, all 30 general hospitals in the state would be rehabilitated and adequately equipped.
He also announced that the council had approved the release of N570 million to the Kebbi Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KECHEMA) for the registration of 45,000 vulnerable persons under the State Social Register.
“This means that each of the 225 wards in the state will register at least 200 vulnerable individuals.
“The effort will go a long way in advancing KECHEMA’s mandate of providing affordable healthcare for the poor,” he said.
Marshall further disclosed that, under the World Bank IMPACT project, the state had provided its counterpart funding for the rehabilitation of 73 primary healthcare centres across the state.
“To complement that effort, the council has also approved the rehabilitation of an additional 42 primary healthcare centres across the local government areas in line with national standards,” he said.
The council, he said, also approved N407.5 million as a take-off grant for the Kebbi State Drugs, Medical and Consumable Agency, aimed at ensuring the availability of subsidised drugs in the state.
Marshall appealed for the support and understanding of the people, assuring that the government remained committed to improving their living standards.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abba Sani-Kalgo, said the council also approved the establishment of the Kebbi State Bureau of Statistics to provide reliable and verifiable data for effective planning.
He said Idris had approved N900 million as a take-off grant for the bureau, adding that Prof. Umar Usman had been appointed as the substantive Statistician-General of the state.
“This bureau will ensure credible data collection for planning and monitoring development programmes in the state,” Sani-Kalgo added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, said the council had approved the procurement of 2,000 power tillers at the cost of N3 billion under the Kaura Development Agenda (KADAGE) to boost agricultural activities.
In the same vein, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Attahiru Maccido, said the council approved N1.4 billion for the procurement of school furniture to improve learning conditions across schools in the state.