Bomba Dauda
As preparations intensify for the official commissioning of the 300-bed hospital at Millennium City, concerns are growing among citizens and observers over the actual readiness of the much-anticipated health facility.
The hospital, reportedly scheduled to be commissioned this week by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or a representative, is said to be incomplete despite public announcements suggesting otherwise. The project, initially conceptualized during the administration of former Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo and later remodelled and financed under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, is being delivered through a Build-Manage-and-Transfer arrangement with the Islamic Development Bank and other partners.
Sources familiar with the project claim that certain areas of the hospital remain unfinished, with allegations that temporary arrangements are being made — including staging of equipment and patients — to present an image of completion during the high-profile event.
According to available records, as of May 29, 2023, over N5 billion had already been spent on the project, with just over N1.2 billion outstanding. This placed the hospital at more than 70% completion, with structural work largely done and major equipment already delivered.
Critics argue that the rush to commission the hospital may be politically motivated, aimed at bolstering the current administration’s narrative of progress two years into its tenure. Some observers have called for a postponement of the commissioning until the facility is fully completed and ready to serve the public.
“The people of Kaduna deserve a fully functional hospital, not another hastily packaged project,” one concerned resident said. “This shouldn’t be about scoring cheap political points — it’s about healthcare and lives.”
While the project has enjoyed support across multiple administrations, former Governor El-Rufai is widely credited with securing the over N9 billion
