Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reducing medical tourism by providing world-class healthcare infrastructure within the state.
The governor made the pledge during an inspection tour of the ongoing construction of the Borno State Teaching Hospital along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road.
The multi-billion-naira project, when completed, he said, is expected to significantly improve healthcare delivery and reduce the need for residents to seek treatment abroad.
The 400-bed facility will house 15 specialised departments and serve as a training centre for medical students from the Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Gov. Zulum said that “the reason we established this teaching hospital is to ensure quality and affordable healthcare delivery for our people.
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“It will significantly reduce medical tourism, as many of our indigenes currently seek treatment in Cairo and other countries.”
He noted that the hospital will be equipped with modern medical technology and run by qualified professionals, supported by a dedicated 5-megawatt solar power facility to guarantee uninterrupted electricity.
“I believe that if we can have a befitting hospital with state-of-the-art equipment, people will prefer to seek care here rather than travel overseas. I am ready to provide everything needed to make this a world-class medical facility,” Gov. Zulum added.
Also, the governor highlighted the hospital’s economic benefits, stating that it will create over 1,000 skilled jobs upon completion, while the ongoing construction phase has already engaged between 2,000 and 3,000 workers.
During the tour, he was briefed by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ibrahim Kida, and the project’s site engineer, Usman Tijjani.
Gov. Zulum inspected key sections of the hospital, including medical and surgical wards, the General Outpatient Department (GOPD), the accident and emergency unit, physiotherapy and radiology units, operating theatres, and the conference hall.
He assured that the facility would be fully operational by the end of September 2025.
In addition to the hospital, the governor also visited other legacy projects, including the 4,000-capacity international conference centre.
He commended the contractor for the quality of work and directed that the project be completed by the first quarter of 2026.
“A state like Borno deserves a world-class conference centre to host international events. I urge you to expedite construction to meet the deadline,” Gov. Zulum said.
The governor also inspected the Post Office Flyover, his administration’s fourth overhead bridge, and the 2.8-kilometre Kogin Tifa drainage project, which is aimed at addressing the flooding challenges in Maiduguri.
