Concern is mounting over the continued closure of the 300-bed Bola Tinubu Specialist Hospital in Kaduna State, more than 10 months after it was commissioned amid high public expectations.
A nongovernmental organisation, Tracka, raised the concerns on its Facebook page on Wednesday, stating that the facility, located in Millennium City, Chikun, and inaugurated in June 2025, was envisioned as a major boost to healthcare delivery in the state.
However, despite its completion, the hospital has remained under lock and key, yet to provide the critical medical services it was designed for.
The organization noted that the prolonged inactivity has sparked frustration among residents, who say the idle facility represents a missed opportunity to ease pressure on existing hospitals and improve access to quality care.
It lamented that many patients, particularly those who can afford it, continue to travel long distances in search of specialist treatment that should be available locally.
It further raised concerns that there were reports suggesting that ambulances provided during the hospital’s commissioning are no longer at the facility, raising questions about asset management, oversight, and accountability.
Stakeholders have questioned the rationale behind commissioning a fully completed hospital that has not been made operational, as well as the apparent absence of a clear framework for staffing, management, and service delivery.
Observers also note that the situation highlights a broader pattern of premature commissioning of public projects without adequate post-completion planning, a practice that undermines public trust and denies citizens the intended benefits of critical infrastructure.
The organization called on the Kaduna State Government, led by Uba Sani, and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to urgently address the situation.
It also urged them to provide clarity on the hospital’s operational status, ensure its immediate activation, account for all equipment and assets, including the reportedly missing ambulances, and implement a sustainable plan for staffing and management.
It stress that public infrastructure must go beyond ceremonial commissioning, insisting that taxpayers deserve functional, accessible, and life-saving services.
It noted that until concrete action is taken, the silent corridors of the Bola Tinubu Specialist Hospital remain a stark symbol of unfulfilled promise in Kaduna’s healthcare system.
