Gov. Tambuwal Lauds Army Over Plan To Establish Hospital In Sokoto

File Photo: Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has commended the Nigerian Army for its plan to establish a tertiary military hospital in the state to serve as a centre for combating military related diseases.

This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Imam Imam.

Mr. Tambuwal said the hospital would also serve as a research institution with United Nations standard international public health laboratory, noting that some states also applied for the facility but Sokoto state emerged the preferred location.

According to the governor, the government had already provided a space at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital for temporary use by the hospital pending when work on its permanent site would be completed.

Mr. Tambuwal said, “First of all, I want to inform the people of Sokoto State that our efforts in attracting important projects from within and outside the country have continued to yield positive results.

“This hospital is of great importance not just to the military, but to our people as a whole. Diseases of military importance are areas of concern globally because of the large population of people that can be infected after outbreaks.

“Such diseases are subject of importance in efforts to counter bioterrorism and bio-weapons by aggressor nations. These infectious diseases include, among others, dengue fever, Ebola, Lassa fever, anthrax, among others.

“Having a centre in Sokoto dedicated to countering these likely outbreaks is a welcome development. We will support the hospital with facilities and logistics to properly take off until it is fully on its feet.”

Mr. Tambuwal, however refuted claims that the state government had permanently handed over the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital to the military.

He said,“We just sent a bill to the state House of Assembly to establish the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital as property of the state government. Its position has not changed.

“The military will use the facility pending when all facilities for the newly-established Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, Sokoto, are fully ready.”