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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has commissioned a 100-bed Renewed Hope Specialist Hospital in his Zaria Federal Constituency, marking a significant addition to healthcare infrastructure in Kaduna State.

The facility, situated in the Dumbin Rauga community within Dutsen Abba Ward, was delivered through the Sustainable Development Goals office as part of efforts to improve access to quality medical services.

The commissioning ceremony drew a large crowd, with the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, among top dignitaries in attendance.

The new hospital is expected to ease the burden on residents who previously had to travel considerable distances to access specialised treatment, particularly those in Zaria and surrounding communities.

“That situation has placed pressure on households and delayed treatment in many cases. What we are opening today changes that. It brings care closer to people and improves access in a direct and practical way,.

“This project also holds personal significance. It reflects engagements with communities across this constituency, where the need for improved healthcare facilities has been consistently raised. Based on those engagements, we pursued this intervention and secured the necessary support at the federal leve“, he saidl.

Speaker Abbas acknowledged the role of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in making the project a reality through his commitment to targeted investments that respond to real needs. He also commended the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs for ensuring timely delivery.

He said Zaria is a strategic location for such a facility, noting that it serves not only the city but also a wide network of communities across Kaduna State and the North West.

“This hospital will reduce referrals, ease congestion at other centres, and provide a stronger foundation for healthcare delivery in the state and the region.

“Across the North West, population growth has increased demand for services, particularly in healthcare. In many cases, existing facilities have struggled to keep up. This hospital adds capacity and improves the situation. It is one step in a broader effort to strengthen healthcare systems across the country.

“At the national level, the House of Representatives has focused on ensuring that public spending delivers visible results. We have strengthened oversight to ensure projects are completed and put to use. It is not enough to approve funds. The outcome must be clear to the public. This facility is an example of what that approach should produce.”

However, the Speaker noted, the work does not end with commissioning, saying, “A hospital becomes valuable when it functions well over time. It must be properly staffed, its equipment maintained, and its services reliable. I urge those who will manage this facility to ensure that it meets these expectations every day.”

The Speaker encouraged collaboration between the hospital on one hand and the local authorities and community organisations on the other hand.

He added that, “This project fully aligns with the broader direction of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises improving healthcare, expanding access, and strengthening systems. What we see here is one part of that wider effort.

“As we approach another electoral cycle, our choice should be guided by evidence, not promises. This hospital is evidence. It shows what can be delivered when leadership is focused and consistent. Progress of this kind does not happen by accident. It requires time, coordination, and steady direction. When policies continue, projects are completed, strengthened, and expanded. When that continuity is broken, momentum is lost, and results are delayed.

“At the federal level, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set a clear direction built on reform and delivery. In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani has worked in alignment with that direction. This cooperation is already producing results, as we can see here today.

“For that reason, I call for clear and firm support for the All Progressives Congress. The APC provides the platform through which these policies are implemented and sustained. Supporting the party is supporting continuity, stability, and the expansion of projects like this across the country.

“Looking ahead, there is more to be done. More communities need access to quality healthcare. More facilities need improvement. More services need to reach the people. These goals are achievable, but they require consistent leadership and policy.

“The choice, therefore, is straightforward. To consolidate what has been achieved, to protect the progress already made, and to extend it to more communities, there must be continuity at both the federal and state levels under the leadership of the APC. That is the path to a more stable and improved future for our people.”

In a remark, Governor Uba Sani lauded the Speaker for attracting the project to Zaria. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the project and many others executed in Kaduna State and the North West.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said the project was among the many Speaker Abbas attracted to Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, and the nation as a whole.

“We thank you for all your efforts, Mr. Speaker,” she said, adding that the hospital is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to attend to thousands of patients.

The entire facility was transferred to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) for management.