The recent outcry by some residents of the Rigasa community in Kaduna Central Senatorial District over the siting of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) at Kafanchan in the Southern Senatorial District is, to say the least, unnecessary and misguided. It appears to be a classic case of political mischief driven by individuals whose stock-in-trade is the manipulation of ethnoreligious sentiments for selfish political gain.

Any objective observer of the activities of both the 9th and 10th National Assembly would understand that the two bills establishing FMCs in Kaduna State were separately sponsored by senators representing their respective zones. The decision to situate the FMC in Kafanchan, therefore, did not arise from any discriminatory motive but from due legislative process and strategic consideration by the federal authorities.

The present administration deserves commendation, not condemnation, for seizing the opportunity to establish the FMC in Kafanchan. This singular act has endeared the government to the people of Southern Kaduna, who have long yearned for a major federal presence in the health sector. Without doubt, this development will significantly influence political alignments and voting patterns in the 2027 elections.

It is important to emphasize that an FMC is a tertiary health institution—intended to serve as a referral centre rather than a community hospital. Kaduna North Senatorial District (Zone 1) already hosts a major federal tertiary health facility—Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika—which not only serves the state but also neighboring states across the Northwest. The Kaduna Central Zone (Zone 2) also has an impressive array of tertiary facilities, including a state-owned teaching hospital (Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital), and three single-specialty federal institutions—the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, the National Eye Centre, and the National Ear Care Centre—all located within the zone.

Before now, it was only the Southern Zone (Zone 3) that lacked a tertiary healthcare institution. Hence, the decision to establish the FMC in Kafanchan is not only equitable but also strategically sound for balanced development.

The current agitation from Rigasa, therefore, betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of how an efficient health system is structured. In a well-organized healthcare system, communities do not clamor for tertiary health facilities, as these are designed primarily for referral purposes. What communities truly need are well-equipped primary and secondary healthcare centers capable of managing common ailments, supported by a reliable emergency ambulance network that ensures seamless referrals to tertiary institutions when necessary.

The Kaduna State Government deserves commendation for the remarkable transformation currently taking place in the state’s health sector. The administration’s efforts in improving the welfare of healthcare workers have been unprecedented in over two decades. These interventions are already yielding positive results.

For example, when Kaduna State University (KASU) graduated its first set of medical doctors in 2020, only that cohort undertook their housemanship at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH) because they were bonded to the state. Subsequent graduates, discouraged by poor remuneration following the abrupt cancellation of the bonding policy, sought internship placements outside the state despite being offered automatic slots at BDTH.

However, recent reforms and improved welfare packages have changed the narrative. Members of the latest graduating set have already commenced their housemanship at BDTH—an encouraging sign that confidence in the system is being restored. This development will go a long way in addressing the negative publicity and unfounded criticisms that have trailed the hospital on social media.

Kaduna State’s health sector is clearly on the path to recovery and renewal. What is needed now is collective support, not divisive politics. Politicians must resist the temptation to weaponize public health for partisan advantage. Opposition, in a democracy, should be progressive, not destructive—guided by reason and focused on the common good rather than on the reckless pursuit of power at all costs.

Kaduna deserves leaders and citizens who can rise above sectional sentiments and work together to consolidate the gains in our healthcare delivery system. The establishment of the FMC in Kafanchan is a step toward a more balanced, equitable, and functional healthcare architecture for the entire state.

Prof Danjuma Sale
Consultant Neurosurgeon.