FG Takes Over Yakowa Hospital: Kaduna Hands Over Facility for FMC Upgrade
The Kaduna State Government has officially handed over the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan to the Federal Government for an immediate upgrade into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
Governor Uba Sani finalized the transfer to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare during an official ceremony, describing the decision as a strategic move to bring tertiary healthcare closer to the residents of Kaduna’s Southern Senatorial District and neighbouring states.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sani emphasized that the partnership directly addresses the financial and emotional hardships local families face when traveling long distances for specialist care.
“Beyond the cost of medical care, families must contend with transport expenses, accommodation, lost income, and the distress of navigating unfamiliar places while caring for a loved one,” Sani stated. “For patients whose conditions require urgent attention, distance can compound suffering and delay essential treatment.”
The upgrade is projected to scale up specialist services, boost diagnostic capabilities, and stimulate economic activity and professional development within the host community.
The hospital, which serves as a vital healthcare lifeline in Southern Kaduna, carries deep political and emotional weight. It is named after the late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the former Governor of Kaduna State who died in a helicopter crash in 2012.
Governor Sani noted that the institution bears an enduring responsibility to honour Yakowa’s memory through “compassionate care, professional excellence, and the confidence of the communities it serves.”
To ensure continuity of care, the Governor called for a transparent transition process with strict safeguards for the facility’s current workforce. The handover agreement outlines key priorities, including guaranteeing the status and job security of existing healthcare workers, ensuring clinical operations run smoothly without disruptions during the takeover, and establishing careful administrative protocols for transferring records and physical infrastructure.
Governor Sani expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Health for their commitment to expanding healthcare access while tasking the Federal Government with sustained investment in modern infrastructure, medical equipment, and specialist recruitment.
Local traditional institutions, civil society organizations, and community leaders have been urged to guard the facility as a “shared public trust” to allow medical professionals to serve effectively.
