By Joy Odor, Abuja
The Federal Government has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gombe State Government to take over the General Hospital Kumo and upgrade it to a Federal Medical Centre (FMC), in a move aimed at expanding access to advanced healthcare services in the North-East.
The ceremony, held in Abuja, was presided over by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, and Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, CON.
Dr. Salako described the agreement as a deliberate step in President Bola Tinubu’s drive to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system, noting that FMC Kumo becomes the 16th federal tertiary health institution established within the last two years.
“This MoU demonstrates our administration’s priority in ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to advanced medical services,” Salako said.
He added that the partnership would fast-track the appointment of principal officers, regularization of medical staff, and the establishment of specialized health facilities, alongside reforms in financing, insurance coverage, and medical research.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s focus on tackling snakebite emergencies, announcing plans for a specialized centre in Gombe State to address the menace, backed by annual budgetary allocations for anti-venom procurement, research, and awareness campaigns.
Governor Yahaya, in his remarks, hailed the partnership as a “timely and strategic intervention,” stressing that the project would not only serve Gombe residents but also patients from neighboring states.
“What we are doing today is the icing on the cake. This collaboration will further improve healthcare delivery across the region,” the governor said.
He cited his administration’s contributory health insurance scheme, which currently covers 345,000 enrollees, including 100,000 indigent beneficiaries, as evidence of the state’s commitment to healthcare reform.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, described the MoU as “a symbol of progress and shared responsibility,” adding that the transformation of Kumo General Hospital into FMC Kumo aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
“This is more than a document,” she stressed. “It reflects decentralization, sustainability, and result-driven investment in healthcare, laying the foundation for a regional centre of excellence.”
The FMC Kumo project is expected to boost tertiary healthcare delivery in Gombe and the wider North-East, positioning the facility as a critical hub for specialized medical services in the region.
