The Nigerian House of Representatives has voted against building a second federal hospital in Daura, Katsina state.
The home of President Muhammadu Buhari, Daura, is where the Federal Ministry of Health wants to put a Federal Medical Centre.
But Babangida Ibrahim, who represents Malumfashi/Kurfi Federal Constituency, spoke out against the plan in plenary on Thursday.
Ibrahim said that Daura already had the Nigerian Airforce Reference Hospital, which was built in 2019 and is a “world-class hospital.”
After Ibrahim brought up the idea, the lower chamber told the Ministry of Health to move the hospital to Funtua, which is also in Katsina State.
The House decided that it would be in the public’s best interest to move the hospital to Funtua.
Ibrahim had said that there was not a single medical facility in Funtua Senatorial District.
He said,
“In August 2019, the federal government established Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital as a World Class facility to address the constant medical tourism abroad in search of the best medical services;
“The interest of the large populace in Kastina State will be adversely affected if the sited Federal Medical Centre is left in Daura despite the presence of the Air Force Reference Hospital and its geographical proximity to Katsina;
“Funtua Senatorial District lacks the presence of a Federal Medical facility despite its geographical distance from such facilities available in the State.”
