Laraba MUREY
The Federal Government has3 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gombe State Government to take over the General Hospital, Kumo, and upgrade it to the Federal Medical Centre, Kumo.
The agreement was signed in Abuja by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
Dr. Salako said the MoU was a deliberate step to expand healthcare services and specialised care across the country. He added that the agreement reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery.
He recalled that the administration had already established 15 federal tertiary institutions in two years, with FMC Kumo as the 16th.
“This MoU demonstrates our administration’s priority in ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to advanced medical services. The Federal Government is mobilising resources to rapidly implement this agreement and strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Gombe State,” Salako said in a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Head of Information and Public Relations at the ministry.
The minister also said the partnership would fast-track the appointment of principal officers, regularisation of medical staff, and the establishment of new specialised health facilities.
Speaking further, Salako stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing snakebite challenges.
He said: “The government will continue to make annual budgetary allocations for the procurement of snake venoms, conduct research, and intensify awareness campaigns. To this end, discussion is ongoing to establish a specialised centre for snakebites in Gombe State.”
Governor Yahaya hailed the deal as a “timely and strategic intervention,” saying, “What we are doing today is the icing on the cake. This collaboration will further improve healthcare delivery not only for Gombe residents but also for people from neighbouring states who rely on our health facilities.”
He highlighted Gombe’s achievements in the health sector, noting that the contributory health insurance scheme already has over 345,000 enrollees, including 100,000 indigent beneficiaries. Yahaya assured the Federal Government of his administration’s commitment to fully implement the agreement.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, described the MoU as a historic moment.
She said: “This is more than a document, it is a symbol of progress, shared responsibility, and our determination to deliver real impact in the lives of Nigerians. Through this MoU, we are laying the foundation for transforming the Gombe General Hospital into a Federal Medical Centre, equipped, staffed, and positioned to meet the growing health needs of the community and state at large. It reflects our focus on decentralisation, sustainability, and result-driven investments in healthcare, fully aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Kachollom also praised Governor Yahaya and his team for their proactive approach to healthcare reform and assured that the ministry would ensure the centre becomes a regional hub of excellence.
