• Governor credits President for improved security, healthcare in state
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for the state in tackling security challenges and improving healthcare.
The governor said the President responded effectively when Bauchi State was facing a serious banditry threat.
Mohammed, who is the Bauchi South senatorial candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (AMP), spoke on Monday at the Bauchi Government House when he hosted the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports that the ministers were in the state to inaugurate a world-class radiodiagnostic centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).
Mohammed said he was pleased with the Federal Government’s partnership with Bauchi State, particularly in sectors where the state needed additional support.
“We don’t always just oppose and criticise for criticism’s sake. When we see good things, we say it. Mr. President has done so well in so many aspects, especially in the areas of health and finance, because the states are getting more revenue now. And we are very grateful.
“You can see what we are doing with the revenue in the state. We are grateful that they are coming to us to augment what we are doing at the state level, especially in health services. What you have done to establish high-quality health infrastructure is definitely going to provide the needed health facilities that are always absent in a state like Bauchi,” he said.
Mohammed noted that the Federal Government’s healthcare investment would improve access to specialised services, adding that political differences should not stand in the way of services that benefit citizens.
“We cannot play politics with health and education. We cannot play politics with services. We are very grateful to Mr. President because he has done so many things for us in Bauchi, especially in the area of security.
“He has just established two Army formations in Bauchi: one in Alkaleri and another in Tafawa Balewa. When we were almost overrun by bandits, I went to him, and he responded, in spite of my position as a member of the opposition.
“He sent a high-powered military contingent under the National Security Adviser (NSA), the military services and all the security organisations. Today, those who were displaced have returned to their places. We will never forget this goodwill that he has done to us.”
Commenting on the healthcare project, Pate said the Federal Government had completed 10 world-class radiodiagnostic centres across the country within two years, with Bauchi hosting the first inauguration.
The minister said the centres were delivered through the collaboration of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and Med-Serve.
He described the development as a major expansion of healthcare infrastructure and diagnostic capacity in the country.
According to him, the Bauchi centre is the first of the 10 facilities to be commissioned, while the remaining centres have also been completed in other parts of the country.
He added that the Federal Government had also completed three world-class cancer centres, while preparations were underway for six major multi-speciality hospitals, with one planned for each geopolitical zone.
Pate said the investments were aimed at bringing advanced medical services closer to Nigerians and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to access specialised diagnosis and treatment.
Speaking on the economic side of the project, Oyedele said the Bauchi diagnostic centre demonstrated how the Federal Government’s economic reforms could translate into tangible improvements in healthcare and infrastructure.
He said the reforms were helping to stabilise the macroeconomy, restore investor confidence and strengthen institutions, adding that cooperation between the Federal and state governments remained important to achieving better healthcare and infrastructure.
Oyedele also acknowledged the cooperation of the Bauchi State government, saying the successful completion of the project showed what could be achieved when the Federal and state governments worked together.
