The Federal Government has commissioned 16 infrastructure projects at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kware, in Sokoto State, as part of a nationwide initiative to strengthen tertiary healthcare under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the development as “a major leap forward in strengthening mental health care and general service delivery, particularly in northern Nigeria.”
According to the minister, the projects are part of over 500 infrastructure upgrades completed in federal health institutions across the country within the last two years. “This commissioning is a clear demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to making federal health institutions more effective, accessible, and people-centred,” Dr. Salako said.
Among the newly inaugurated facilities are a Molecular Laboratory, an Intensive Care Unit, a Regional Women and Children Drug Dependency Treatment Centre, an Accident and Emergency Centre, a Multipurpose Students’ Hostel, a School of Post Basic Nursing (Psychiatry), and a solar-powered alternative energy system.
Dr. Salako commended the hospital’s management, particularly the outgoing Medical Director, Professor Sheu Sale, for what he described as the “prudent and impactful use of public resources.” He added: “Professor Sale’s leadership has transformed this hospital into a model for quality psychiatric care in the region.”
The minister noted that over 50 similar projects have recently been commissioned across four of the country’s geopolitical zones. He emphasized that the administration’s broader goals also include health workforce expansion and digitization. “More than 15,000 health workers have been recruited in the last year,” he said. “We are also pushing forward with digital initiatives to enhance transparency, efficiency, and quality of care.”
On the implementation of the National Mental Health Act, 2023, Dr. Salako reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to integrating mental healthcare into primary health services. He highlighted efforts to decriminalise suicide and reduce stigma surrounding mental health disorders.
Dr. Salako also disclosed plans to tackle energy challenges in healthcare delivery through renewable energy solutions. “We will soon host a National Dialogue on Power in Healthcare to address persistent energy gaps in the sector,” he said. He further revealed that the forthcoming Renewed Hope Health Connect aims to provide free medical, surgical, ophthalmological, and audiology services to at least one million vulnerable Nigerians.
He expressed gratitude to the Sokoto State Government and traditional institutions, particularly the Sultan of Sokoto, for their continued partnership. He urged healthcare professionals to align with the Renewed Hope vision to transform Nigeria’s health sector into a continental hub of excellence.
The event also marked the end of Professor Sale’s eight-year tenure, which stakeholders described as a period of significant growth and modernization for the hospital.