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Federal Teaching Hospital KATSINA At The Verge Of Collapse-Zainab Amiru Sanusi

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By Zainab Amiru Sanusi

The main goal of any Federal Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria is to provide safe, quality, affordable, adequate, equitable, accessible and comprehensive health services to people, as well as contributing to the development of healthcare professionals. But this is not the case at the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina State.

My experience at the FTH on the 1st of April 2025, brings about many questions on the commitment of this institution in caring for the life it was designed to save.
My son (3 years) was running temperature and could barely walk, but I managed to take him to the Federal Teaching Hospital where we saw a doctor. After the consultation, the doctor asked if I had given him anything prior to which I responded that I had given him anti-malaria drugs and paracetamol, the doctor referred us to the laboratory for further investigations. At the laboratory, my son’s blood sample was taken but that itself was painful to watch as a mother, because they kept missing the vein thereby causing him more pain and discomfort. We were told to return the following day for the results. However, I felt the need to report back to the doctor and ask for advise on what else I could do pending the outcome of the result. The doctor recommended Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) but I raised my concern that my son had vomited everything he had taken so far, including water. The doctor reluctantly stated that I should just complete that anti-malaria drugs and continue with the ORS even if he throws up. He added that there was nothing else he could do without seeing the results of the Full Blood Count (FBC) from the laboratory.

That was how we returned home feeling disturbed as a mother seeing her son severely sick. My sleep was full of worries and my son kept throwing up the whole night.

The next day, after completing the anti-malaria dose, I returned to FTH and headed straight to the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) laboratory to collect the results of the FBC tests so that we can proceed to see the doctor. To my greatest shock and disappointment, I met a staff who dismissively told me that the result was not out and that I should follow up at the hematology. I sensed something was not right because I had given them enough time to get the results ready.

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Notwithstanding, I went straight to the hematology, It was at the hematology that I got the shock of my life, I was told the test was not done! I was dumbfounded, sad and speechless. I asked for an explanation after detailing to the staff that indeed, my son’s blood sample was taken and that I was assured the results would be ready in 24 hours. The only response the staff could provide was “Hajiya bamu da Kayan aiki“ (Hajiya, we are short of working tools.) I could not make sense of what he told me, then I asked again where is the blood sample of my son? He responded by saying that they had not been collecting blood samples because they were not carrying out those investigations and that they probably sent them back! I asked him why would you take blood samples for which you cannot run the test? To this, I was met with a deadpan stare! After some excruciating minutes of waiting for I don’t even know what, I asked him what I should do now.

He suggested I go outside the hospital and conduct the test if I truly needed it. “Allah ya bama Mara lafiyan lafiya” he concluded.

I left the hematology feeling disappointed and distressed at the hospital of that calibre, that pride itself with knowing exactly how to cater to the needs of its patients was displaying the highest form of incompetence and neglect with no one taking responsibility or showing any form of empathy. In fact, it can be said they are being deceitful, if not, why would samples be taken, knowing surely that the tests would not be done?

I dragged my feet to the NHIS lab to demand for the blood samples of my son and to my greatest shock (yet again), I was told it could not be found. At that instance I could feel the rage building up and I asked how that was possible. Yet again I was met with a deadpan stare!!! The lab attendant finally stated that it wasn’t their fault and that if they had the right working tools, they would have done that. His responses beg the question WHOSE FAULT IS IT??? Why is it that a reputable hospital such as the FTH Katsina doesn’t have the materials to conduct a test like “FBC???”

I reached out to some of the staff of the hospital who offered to speak on condition of anonymity. I was reliably informed that the major reason why I could not get my results was due to the absence of reagents which is the main substance used in conducting tests. They also stated that in cases, where the reagents where available, the management had to sign for them to be released to the laboratory. In a nutshell, the bureaucratic policy of the hospital is what is causing many patients like me and my son not to get the blood samples taken analysed. The patient is either left in the dark or made to seek for other alternatives.

The words of the Chief Medical Director (CMD), on the hospital’s website reads “We equally dedicate our resources to support our healthcare workforce in their daily tasks, helping them reach their fullest potential, thereby developing and maintaining service excellence at the highest level. We believe that, by ensuring better healthcare services for the present and future generations, we contribute to building a brighter world together. We look forward to your continued support and patronage.”

Sadly, my experience and that of many other helpless patients out there, some of who reached out to me with their own experiences is in direct contradiction to his words. There is no sign that the hospital is concerned about the poor state of affairs at its laboratory if not, there is no justification why there would be repeated issue of absence of common reagents to run tests effectively. The bureaucratic process of receiving these items also needs to be looked into if indeed the hospital wants to live up to its potential as the best place to access affordable healthcare in the state. For now though, the state of the laboratory is an accident waiting to happen.!

Therefore, I call on the federal government, the state government, Chairman Nation Health Insurance Scheme Katsina(NHIS) and the appropriate authority of the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina to pay serious attention and take necessary action to address the present condition of the hospital from collapsing by providing adequate assistance, medical facilities and trained medical personnel in order to minimise the rate of casualty and health complication in the state.

Opinion

President Tinubu’s Visit to Katsina: A Missed Opportunity Wrapped in Songs and Handshakes

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Jamilu Abdussalam Hajaj

 

By Jamilu Abdussalam Hajaj

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Katsina should have been a pivotal moment—an opportunity for the state to draw national attention to its pressing challenges, developmental milestones, and future aspirations. Unfortunately, what should have been a strategic communication moment for the state turned into a viral distraction.

From the streets of Katsina to the corners of social media, two things dominated the narrative: a campaign-style song from singer Rarara and a casual handshake between the President and Aisha Humaira. These moments, while lighthearted and culturally expressive, overshadowed the very essence of a presidential visit—governance, development, and accountability.

It raises a critical question: Was the state’s PR machinery asleep, or was the leadership not interested in framing the visit within a narrative that could catalyze national interest, policy focus, or even investment in Katsina?

In a time when states are competing for federal attention, donor support, and private capital, optics matter. Yet, in Katsina, a sitting governor was cheering a singer on and clapping joyfully to impress the President. A presidential visit is not just a ceremonial tour; it is a platform. It’s the time to walk the President through pressing realities— insecurity in rural areas, the economic potential in agriculture, the struggles with education, the underfunded health sector, the resilience of the people, and the efforts already underway to tackle these issues.

Instead, the silence around these important issues was deafening.

No strategic documentaries. No impactful speeches. No high-level stakeholder engagements positioned in the media. No community interactions that could inspire federal interventions. Not even a strong visual presentation of the state’s development agenda.

Governance is not just about doing the work; it’s about telling the story. And in that regard, Katsina missed the moment.

This visit should have been used to showcase the hard work of the administration (if there is any to show), to call for more support where needed, and to galvanize public interest and empathy. But when all that trends from a presidential visit are a song and a handshake, it’s safe to say the moment was poorly managed or, worse, completely misunderstood.

Moving forward, states must take public relations seriously—not for propaganda, but for perception, engagement, and strategic positioning. Because if you don’t control the narrative, someone else will. And often, they will focus on the trivial and mundane parts, not the transformational.

 

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Opinion

EFCC Probe on Refineries: Transparency or Political Witch-Hunt

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By Aminu Umar

The recent move by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe the handling of finances and contracts related to the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries has stirred a heated debate on whether the investigation represents a genuine drive for transparency or a politically motivated witch-hunt.

At the heart of the issue is the EFCC’s request for salary records and allowances of 14 key officials who served during the refinery rehabilitation period. These include high-ranking executives such as Abubakar Yar’Adua, Mele Kyari, Isiaka Abdulrazak, Umar Ajiya, Dikko Ahmed, Ibrahim Onoja, Ademoye Jelili, and Mustapha Sugungun.

Others listed are Kayode Adetokunbo, Efiok Akpan, Babatunde Bakare, Jimoh Olasunkanmi, Bello Kankaya, and Desmond Inyama. The commission appears focused on payments and administrative decisions linked to the multi-billion naira refinery resuscitation program.

However, conspicuously absent from the list of those summoned is Adedapo Segun, the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), who served as Executive Vice President for Downstream and was directly in charge of treasury, refinery operations, shipping, and trading. During this time, all payments related to the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries were made under his financial supervision.

This omission has raised several questions: Why is Segun not being invited or questioned if the goal is transparency? Why is the probe appearing selective?

Equally puzzling is the inclusion of Abubakar Yar’Adua, whose role is administrative rather than operational, while high-profile former Group Managing Directors (GMDs) such as Andrew Yakubu, and Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who played central roles in refinery policy and contracts in previous administrations, appear to have been bypassed.

We are not saying Mele Kyari is innocent or guilty, but we must insist on a fair process,” a stakeholder familiar with the situation told this reporter. “This shouldn’t be a selective trial. The people who gave out the contracts and approved the funds must be investigated too.”

The tension is heightened by growing concerns that the probe is targeted at individuals from a specific region. Many observers fear this could deepen regional mistrust, especially if only northern executives are made scapegoats.

We are worried this is being used to paint Northerners as the only looters,” said one source. “You cannot fight corruption with bias. You need to look at all sides. This includes those who were ‘exonerated’ too quickly.”

Another burning question is why individuals such as Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, former Minister of State for Petroleum, and Andrew Yakubu, former GMD of NNPC, who had strategic influence on contract awards and rehabilitation policies, are not facing any scrutiny. Critics argue that anyone involved at any stage of the refinery rehabilitation—whether from policy, finance, or operational perspectives—should be equally held accountable.

Civil society groups and international anti-corruption bodies are now being urged to step in. The call is for an independent and thorough probe that includes all relevant stakeholders—without exception.

“We are calling on NGOs and international organisations to ensure that this is not a political trial. If you must clean up the refinery system, you must do it across the board,” the statement concluded.

In a country plagued by decades of failed refinery operations and opaque oil sector dealings, the public is watching this investigation closely. The EFCC is at a crossroads: its actions will either affirm its commitment to justice or expose it to accusations of being used as a tool for political vendettas.

For now, Nigerians wait—with growing skepticism.

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Opinion

Censoring the Uncensored: The irony behind Hisbah’s ban on Hamisu Breaker’s song

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By Ummi Muhammad Hassan

Following the ban by Hisbah on a new song titled “Amana Ta” by Hamisu Breaker, social media went into an uproar, capturing the attention of the public.

In the early hours of April 24, 2025, social media was filled with reactions following a press statement issued by the Deputy Commander of the Hisbah Board, Kano State chapter, Dr. Khadija Sagir, announcing the ban of Breaker’s new song. The reason cited was that the song allegedly contains obscene language.

This announcement, however, triggered a counterreaction from the public. Many became curious to know more about the song and the so-called obscene content, with some taking to their social media handles to express their opinions.

The irony of the situation is that Hisbah unintentionally gave the song more prominence, causing it to go viral. Many people who were previously unaware of the song searched for and listened to it, just to understand the controversy.

In my opinion, after listening to the song, it contains no obscene language. Rather, the issue seems to lie with some young women who mimed the song in a suggestive manner after hearing that Hisbah had labelled it as indecent—as though to dramatize or reinforce the claim. Some even appeared as if they were intoxicated.

To me, this is both devastating and concerning, as it reflects the erosion of the strong moral standards once upheld by Hausa women. Many young people are now making videos lip-synching the song in indecent ways. It made me pause and ask myself: where has our shyness gone? I believe this question deserves a deeper conversation on another day.

In Breaker’s case, thanks to the Hisbah ban, he became the most trending Kannywood artist in April, and his song went viral—and continues to trend.

A similar incident occurred earlier this year when the federal government banned Idris Abdulkareem’s song *Tell Your Papa*. That action unexpectedly brought the artist back into the spotlight, causing the song to trend widely.

Social media has made censorship increasingly difficult. Once a movie, text, or song reaches the internet, it becomes almost impossible to control—even by the creators themselves.

While social media censorship remains a challenge, this recent incident highlights the need for the government to intensify efforts against the spread of indecent content—through Hisbah and agencies like the Kano State Film Censorship Board.

Clear guidelines should be put in place, requiring artists and filmmakers to submit their content for review and approval before public release. This, among other strategies, could help reduce the spread of inappropriate material.

Additionally, Hisbah should be more mindful of how such announcements are made, as they may inadvertently promote the very content they seek to suppress.

Ummi Muhammad Hassan, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano. She can be reached via email at: ummeemuhammadhassan@gmail.com.

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