The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Government to convert Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), expanding access to specialist healthcare in Southern Kaduna.
The agreement was signed on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Kaduna State Government in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the initiative was part of efforts to make quality tertiary healthcare accessible to Nigerians regardless of where they live.
He said the government was working under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) to reduce disparities in access to specialist medical services.
According to Salako, the Federal Government has established 16 additional federal tertiary health institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones in the last 42 months.
“Tertiary healthcare must not remain a privilege of capital cities and metropolitan centres,” he said, emphasising the need to bring specialist services closer to underserved communities.
FG Plans Infrastructure Upgrade, Specialist Recruitment
Salako said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would work with the Kaduna State Government to improve the hospital’s infrastructure, expand its diagnostic capacity and provide advanced medical equipment.
He added that the plan includes deploying specialist medical personnel and creating a pathway for interested existing hospital workers to join the Federal Government’s workforce.
The minister also said the facility would be developed into a regional centre for medical training, research and specialised clinical services, potentially serving patients from Southern Kaduna and neighbouring communities.
He described the conversion as a fitting tribute to the late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, a former governor of Kaduna State, whose name the hospital bears.
Kaduna Government Commits to Smooth Handover
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, commended the Federal Government for approving a second federal tertiary health institution in the state.
He said the development would improve access to specialised medical services for Kaduna’s growing population, estimated at 12 million people.
Sani described the agreement as an example of cooperation between federal and state governments in addressing barriers to quality healthcare.
The governor also assured the Federal Government of the state’s commitment to a smooth transition, disclosing that the state would continue paying the hospital’s workers until they are successfully absorbed into the federal payroll.
Agreement to Reduce Travel Costs for Patients
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S., said the new Federal Medical Centre would extend access to specialist treatment, medical training and research to residents of Jema’a Local Government Area, neighbouring local government areas and communities in adjoining states.
She said the initiative aligns with Priority Six of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight Presidential Priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as well as the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
Kachollom noted that bringing specialist healthcare closer to communities would reduce the financial burden and physical strain associated with travelling long distances to access treatment.
She added that the success of the agreement would ultimately depend on the quality of care delivered to patients.
According to her, the ministry’s responsibility is to save lives, reduce physical and financial hardship, and improve access to healthcare for Nigerians.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Kaduna State Government to meet the agreed implementation milestones, improve the hospital’s capacity and expand access to quality specialist healthcare across Southern Kaduna and beyond.
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