by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
An activist-cum founder of ‘Eagle Brain Human Rights Organization,’ Comrade Daniel Ejembi, has made another shocking revelation, apportioning blames to Governor Uba Sani and Kaduna State House Assembly over delay in operationalization of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) located in Kafanfchan, in southern part of Kaduna State.
CEO Ejembi alleged that the FMC, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who holds a declared “special interest” in the region and celebrated as a critical lifeline, remained stranded due to what he termed as “bureaucratic bottleneck” as the only one amongst its peers yet to begin operations nationwide
“As 2025 draws to a close, the residents of Southern Kaduna face a painful disparity: while a new Federal University of Applied Sciences launched swiftly in Kachia, the promised Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Kafanchan remains stranded in bureaucratic inertia, the only one of its peers nationwide yet to begin operations.
“It was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who holds a declared ‘special interest’ in the region and celebrated as a critical lifeline,” according to a statement personally signed by the CEO and made available to our reporter on Kaduna.
“The Nigerian Senate passed the bill on May 23, 2025, following swift House of Representatives approval, with President Tinubu’s assent coming even earlier as a gesture of his ‘special interest.’
“For a region scarred by insecurity and healthcare deficits, the centre’s continued delay is a profound disservice to a community long burdened by insecurity and healthcare neglect,” he stated.
He stressed that, “With the Federal Government having fulfilled its part by passing the necessary law, appointing a Chief Medical Director, and allocating funds through supplementary budget, the project now languishes solely due to unfinished administrative handover processes at the Kaduna State level, a routine procedure completed in counterpart states like Borno and Bauchi in mere weeks.”
According to him, “While legislators highlighted its potential to create 5,000 jobs, who is against the potential of the center to generate 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, bolstering the local economy, while addressing the “Japa syndrome” plaguing Nigeria’s health sector?
“The establishment of FMC Kafanchan, meant to transform the state-owned Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, was set in motion with the passage of the Federal Medical Centre Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (SB. 355) earlier this year.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health inspected the site and announced a September start-date to curb delayed treatments and preventable deaths.
“However, for the federal takeover to proceed, four key steps are required: formal notification from the Federal Government, approval by the Kaduna State Executive Council, legislative backing from the State House of Assembly, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding,” he noted.
He added that, “It is reported that, while the federal notification was sent months ago, the crucial state-level approvals have not been finalized.
“This is a case of Rijiya ta bada ruwa, amma guga ta hana, (meaning, “The well has yielded water, but the fetcher has prevented it.) The solution, funds, approval, or blessing is already there in abundance, but the very person entrusted to bring it to the people has become the obstacle.
“This administrative stalemate contradicts the public assurances and political goodwill generated for the region.
“Governor Uba Sani has been presented to be publicly supportive of Southern Kaduna stakeholders, including youth groups have pledged ‘significant political support’ in recognition of this project.
“Every day of inaction undermines this trust and exacerbates the suffering of a population in desperate need of specialist medical services, emergency care, and the economic boost the hospital would bring.
“Eagle Brain, therefore, issues a direct and urgent call to Governor Uba Sani and the Kaduna State House of Assembly: demonstrate decisive leadership, convene immediately to pass the required resolutions, and sign the handover agreement to allow the Federal Ministry of Health to deploy personnel and resources without further delay.
“The people of Southern Kaduna have waited decades for this milestone; they must not be made to wait another day,” he revealed, adding, “Eagle Brain issues urgent calling on Governor Uba Sani and Kaduna Assembly to expedite action for the urgent taking-off of Federal Medical Center Kafanchan.”