Bauchi Govt Launches N7.8bn Hospital Upgrade as Gombe Wins $4,000 Healthcare Award

Date: May 26, 2025

Health infrastructure in Northern Nigeria just received a major boost as Bauchi and Gombe States made headlines for impressive progress in healthcare delivery.

Bauchi State | N7.8 Billion Hospital Upgrade Underway

The Bauchi State Government has begun a ₦7.8 billion upgrade of the Bauchi Specialist Hospital, aiming to raise it to international standards.

According to Health Commissioner Sani Mohammed, the project includes full-scale rehabilitation and installation of modern medical equipment, with completion expected by the end of 2025.

The initiative is part of Governor Bala Mohammed’s health sector reforms and also covers the renovation of 12 general hospitals and 212 primary healthcare centers across the state.

In addition to facility upgrades:

Solar power will soon be installed in 27 general hospitals and other health institutions.
10,000 health workers are set to be recruited.
The retirement age for lecturers in health institutions has been increased to 65 years.
The pre-service scheme has been restored to strengthen manpower pipelines.
₦250 million was invested in the state’s medical consumables agency.
Bauchi also contributed ₦800 million as counterpart funding for immunization efforts.

The state, in partnership with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, distributed 10,000 hearing aids and also commissioned medical oxygen plants in several towns, including Azare, Misau, and Ningi.

Emergency ambulance services were also launched at Bauchi Specialist Hospital and ATBU Teaching Hospital, offering free care in the first 48 hours.

Health expert Hassan Garba urged the state to invest in data management to aid future planning and quality service delivery.

Gombe State | Innovation Recognised with National Award

In Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration was recognized with the “Most Innovative State in Healthcare Delivery Award” and a $4,000 grant from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and UNICEF.

Gombe upgraded key hospitals in Kumo, Kaltungo, and Bajoga and handed over the revitalized Kumo General Hospital to the federal government for its transformation into a Federal Medical Center.

According to Health Commissioner Habu Dahiru, the upgraded facilities now serve as training grounds for:

Lincoln University, Kumo
Federal University, Kashere
College of Health Technology, Kaltungo

Key achievements include:

Construction of drug warehouses
Launch of postgraduate medical training at the Gombe Specialist Hospital
Use of a biometric system to monitor staff performance and attendance
Improvements in maternal health, child care, and immunisation
Policy alignment with the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF)

Dahiru emphasized the state’s alignment with federal policies under President Bola Tinubu and expressed optimism about health worker retention, even in the face of migration.

Why This Matters

Bauchi is spending big to modernize hospitals and hire more doctors.
Gombe is being celebrated nationwide for smart innovations in healthcare.
Both states are making healthcare more accessible, reliable, and future-ready.
These developments are improving medical education, service delivery, and patient outcomes.
It shows a strong shift toward state-led innovation and federal alignment in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Bauchi Govt Launches N7.8bn Hospital Upgrade as Gombe Wins $4,000 Healthcare Award