Sokoto govt to replace 100-year-old hospital with world-class facility

The Sokoto State Government has concluded plans to build a new world-class hospital to replace the over 100-year-old Specialist Hospital in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government said this is part of its overall plan to modernise its healthcare delivery, adding that the project is in addition to the ongoing rehabilitation of primary healthcare facilities and general hospitals across the state.

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Abubakar, made this known in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

The commissioner said the decision to replace the hospital reflects Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s commitment to ensuring that Sokoto residents access modern, quality care, and the restoration of public confidence in government-run health institutions.

Abubakar stated: “This hospital has served us for over a century. It’s outdated and no longer meets modern healthcare standards.

“The governor has approved the development of a new world-class hospital that will provide comprehensive and specialist care.”

Abubakar said the government has already procured 240 new hospital beds and mattresses, nine ultrasound machines, and three X-ray machines, which he said have all been strategically distributed across the three senatorial districts.

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“This is a clear departure from the inaction of past administrations. We are now equipping hospitals at the local government level so that patients don’t have to travel all the way to Sokoto metropolis just for a scan or X-ray,” he added.

The commissioner painted a grim picture of the situation he met on assumption of office, saying: “Maternity wards were without electricity, the operating theatres were looted, and there was widespread open defecation due to lack of toilet facilities.

“It was a scandal, but we are tackling the problems head-on.”

Abubakar further disclosed that the government has initiated the installation of solar power systems in all healthcare facilities to guarantee 24-hour electricity, especially in the maternity and emergency units.

According to him, boreholes are also being drilled to ensure a constant water supply, adding that inmates have been engaged to help keep hospital premises clean.

Abubakar stressed that Governor Aliyu’s administration is not waiting for health crises to occur, saying: “We are building systems and facilities that prepare us ahead of time. The era of reactive governance in the health sector is over.”

an24