By Atoyebi Nike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced that the state’s new 400-bed Teaching Hospital under construction along the Maiduguri–Damaturu Road will be fully completed and operational by the end of September 2025.
During an inspection visit on Monday, Zulum said the state-of-the-art facility would provide affordable, high-quality healthcare and drastically reduce the number of citizens seeking medical treatment abroad.
“With this hospital, our people no longer need to travel to Cairo or India for healthcare. We are building a world-class facility that will be accessible, affordable, and professionally run,” Zulum told journalists after touring the site.
The hospital, with 15 specialized departments, is part of a strategic health and education initiative tied to Kashim Ibrahim University, where it will serve as the main training centre for medical students. The governor noted that the project would directly create over 1,000 skilled jobs for healthcare workers, including recent graduates.
To ensure stable operations, Zulum revealed plans to power the hospital and its environments with a 5-megawatt solar energy system, alongside deploying modern medical equipment and qualified personnel.
“If we equip this hospital with the best tools and workforce, our people will prefer getting treated here rather than flying abroad,” he added.
According to the site engineer, Engr. Usman Tijjani, and the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ibrahim Kida, the hospital includes fully equipped medical and surgical wards, a General Outpatient Department (GOPD), accident and emergency units, physiotherapy and radiology wings, operating theatres, and a conference facility.
Governor Zulum also inspected other ongoing projects, including the 4,000-seat International Conference Centre, which he directed, must be completed by Q1 2026, and the Post Office flyover, the fourth overhead bridge under his administration.
He also reviewed progress on the 2.8km Kogin Tifa drainage project, urging all contractors to meet set timelines.
The governor was accompanied by federal lawmaker Hon. Ahmed Jaha, SSG Alhaji Bukar Tijani, commissioners, and senior government aides.