Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, on Sunday reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system as he inspected seven major health projects he facilitated at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
The inspection, which drew attention to the federal government’s investment in specialized healthcare infrastructure, was conducted alongside four Senators — Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream), Muntari Dandutse (Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND), Babangida Hussaini (Chairman, Senate Committee on North West Development Commission), and Abdulhamid Malam-Madori (Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs).
The projects include the construction and equipping of a cardiothoracic centre, internal road construction at the College of Health Sciences (BUK-AKTH premises), construction of a student hostel at the College of Nursing Sciences, interlocking works at the Department of Radiology, S. S. Wali Centre, and Speciality Clinic Annexe, as well as the construction of classrooms and offices at the School of Health Information Management (SHIM), and the establishment of a pediatrics complex.
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In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mallam Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau said the projects align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for improved healthcare delivery, noting that they aim to reduce medical tourism and enhance Nigeria’s healthcare capacity.
“What we are doing now, in terms of developing this institution into an advanced, specialized hospital, is in line with the President’s vision,” Barau said. “The President’s cardinal priority is to ensure sound healthcare delivery at a specialized level. With the investments being made, Nigerians will no longer need to travel abroad for treatment.”
He emphasized the National Assembly’s support for the President’s reform agenda, assuring continued legislative backing to strengthen the health sector and other critical areas of national development.
“We are all members of Mr. President’s family. We are working based on his teachings and commitment to addressing Nigeria’s challenges. What you have seen is only the beginning. We shall continue to develop this hospital until it becomes the best in West Africa,” he added.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of AKTH, Professor Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, commended Senator Barau’s consistent support, noting that his contributions were helping to position AKTH as the best teaching hospital in Nigeria.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, expressed appreciation for Senator Barau’s intervention, stating that within two months of his tenure, the institution had already benefited from two major projects facilitated by the Deputy Senate President.