Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has commissioned three major healthcare and educational projects in Monguno town: an eye hospital, a dental hospital, and a new College of Nursing as part of his administration’s continued investment in the health sector.
During the commissioning ceremony, Governor Zulum emphasized the strategic importance of the newly inaugurated College of Nursing, which he said would help address the critical shortage of skilled healthcare workers across rural communities in northern Borno.
“It’s not just about constructing buildings. Human resources are central to achieving quality healthcare. This college will train young people in nursing, midwifery, and other allied health sciences to bridge the manpower gap, not just in this region but across Borno State,” the governor said.
The newly opened eye hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical tools, enabling local access to sight-saving procedures such as cataract and glaucoma surgeries. The facility is expected to drastically reduce the prevalence of preventable blindness in the region.
Alongside it, the dental hospital, Zulum said, will provide comprehensive oral health services from routine check-ups to complex dental surgeries filling a long-standing gap in the area’s healthcare delivery.
As part of the commissioning, Governor Zulum also flagged-off free eye surgeries for 5,000 underprivileged residents in northern Borno, an initiative aimed at reducing preventable vision loss among the region’s most vulnerable.
Speaking at the event, Borno State Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, praised Zulum’s sustained commitment to the health sector, noting that the administration consistently meets the Abuja Declaration benchmark of allocating at least 15% of the state budget to healthcare.
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Governor Zulum revealed that the state government has approved N3 billion for the construction of a specialist hospital in Monguno. The hospital, which will be fully equipped with modern medical technology such as MRI and CT scanners, according to the Governor, the hospital intended to serve as a referral center for the 10 local government areas of northern Borno.
“The construction alone will cost N3 billion. Once completed, this facility will prevent patients from traveling to Maiduguri for advanced medical care,” Zulum stated.
He added that the new facility will also house a residency training program for doctors, helping to further address the shortage of skilled medical professionals in the region.
Governor Zulum also approved the construction of 100 housing units in Monguno to provide decent accommodation for health workers and teachers serving in the area.
“Comfortable housing is key to retaining skilled professionals. While construction is underway, I’ve directed the local government to identify temporary accommodations which the state will rent for our health workers,” he said.
The governor instructed the Commissioner for Local Government and the Monguno Local Government Chairman to identify a suitable site for the new housing estate, assuring that construction would commence soon.
