The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing quality and accessible healthcare services to residents of the state.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago made this pledge while commissioning newly remodeled medical facilities at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital (IBB Hospital) in Minna, aimed at upgrading tertiary healthcare delivery to world-class standards.

The commissioned facilities include 60-bed porta cabins, an Accident and Emergency Unit, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and a modern radio-diagnostic suite equipped with a mammogram, MRI, CT scan, X-ray, and other advanced scanning rooms.

Governor Bago said the upgrades reflect his administration’s deliberate investment in the health sector under the New Niger Agenda.

“These investments are not just about infrastructure but about saving lives by providing quality healthcare services to our people,” the governor said.

He reaffirmed his administration’s sustained commitment to ensuring that quality healthcare remains within reach of every citizen of Niger State.

The governor also commended development partners, the Commissioner for Health, as well as the management and staff of the hospital for their roles in repositioning the sector. He urged them to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities to guarantee optimal service delivery.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Murtala Mohammed Bagana, praised the governor for his steadfast support for the health sector, noting that the remodelled facilities would significantly reduce medical tourism by providing advanced healthcare services within the state.

Bagana disclosed that the new facilities would offer subspecialty services in cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, pulmonology, family medicine, and anaesthesiology.

He further revealed that the IBB Specialist Hospital is now supporting advanced surgical procedures, including neurosurgery of the brain and spine, total knee replacement, complex orthopaedic surgeries, maxillofacial surgery, burns and plastic surgery, ENT surgery, paediatric surgery—including correction of anorectal malformations—complex general surgery, and urological procedures.

“The facilities can also serve as a temporary site for the IBB University Teaching Hospital for the training of clinical students, resident doctors, and other healthcare professionals, as well as for academic research,” Bagana added.

Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Bala Waziri, described the remodelled facilities as a major milestone in the state’s health sector.

He said the upgrades would increase admission capacity, reduce congestion, and significantly cut down referrals to health facilities outside the state and the country.

Dr Waziri applauded Governor Bago for facilitating the engagement of 20 visiting consultants who are currently collaborating with resident doctors and the hospital’s medical team to enhance service delivery. He assured that the facilities would be properly utilised and maintained.