Abdullahi Sule has signed into law a bill establishing the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Akwanga, with a commitment of ₦6 billion for the immediate upgrade of the facility to tertiary healthcare standards.
The governor disclosed this on Wednesday at the Government House in Lafia while assenting to the bill earlier passed by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly. He said the funding would be drawn from resources received from the World Bank, which identified Nasarawa State for its improved ease of doing business.
“We were able to have ₦17 billion given to us. Out of this ₦17 billion, we are keeping on site about ₦6 billion to be given immediately to this DASH Akwanga so that it can be upgraded to the level of a tertiary healthcare facility both in Lafia and in Keffi,” Sule said.
The governor explained that the establishment of DASH Akwanga was informed by the need to ensure that each senatorial zone in the state has access to a tertiary healthcare facility capable of addressing critical health needs.
He recalled that the former Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia had been donated to the Federal Government to serve as the teaching hospital for the Federal University of Lafia, making it necessary to establish a similar institution in Akwanga to retain the legacy of the late Dr. Dalhatu Araf.
During the same event, Governor Sule swore in the newly appointed State Auditor-General, Kefas Julius Bala, whose nomination had been confirmed by the House of Assembly. He charged the Auditor-General to ensure strict compliance with financial regulations and budgetary provisions.
“As Auditor-General, you must ensure that government expenditures are strictly in line with the budgetary provisions. By doing so, we are eschewing corruption in all ramifications,” the governor said.
Sule also announced the appointment of Dr. Abene Esla Ezekiel as the pioneer Chief Medical Director of DASH Akwanga.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, said due process was followed in the appointment of the Auditor-General and commended the governor’s commitment to equitable distribution of infrastructure and improved healthcare delivery across the state.
Umar Mohammed
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