KEY POINTS

• A dilapidated primary healthcare centre in Suleja reportedly serves about 4,798 residents, including pregnant women and children.
• MonITNG questioned the facility’s condition despite a plaque indicating it had been renovated and called for details of the project’s cost and contractor.
• The organisation urged Governor Bago to urgently rehabilitate the centre and ensure public healthcare funds translate into functional services.

Residents of Anguwa Rimi, Kwamba Low-Cost area of Suleja, Niger State, are reportedly relying on a severely dilapidated primary healthcare centre despite the facility serving an estimated 4,798 people in the community.

The condition of the health centre has triggered calls for urgent intervention from the Niger State Government, with concerns raised over the safety of patients and healthcare workers using the facility.

The situation was brought to public attention by MonITNG in a post on X on Friday, in which the organisation appealed to Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, to urgently intervene.

Photographs shared by MonITNG showed the health centre in a visibly poor condition, including a damaged ceiling with portions appearing to have caved in.

Water stains were also reportedly visible across the ceiling and walls, suggesting that the facility has suffered persistent leakage and deterioration.

The organisation said some walls were damp and deteriorating, while health information posters inside the facility were peeling away.

One of the rooms reportedly contained a worn-out bed fitted with a torn mattress, raising concerns about the quality of care available to patients who depend on the centre.

Medical supplies and documents were also reportedly stacked around a basic wooden desk, further highlighting what the organisation described as inadequate conditions for a primary healthcare facility.

Facility Serves Thousands of Residents

According to MonITNG, the centre is the only primary healthcare facility serving the community and caters to thousands of residents.

Among those who depend on the facility are pregnant women, mothers and children requiring routine immunisation and other basic healthcare services.

The organisation warned that the deteriorating condition of the building could expose vulnerable patients and healthcare workers to unnecessary risks.

It stressed that primary healthcare centres are often the first point of contact between residents and the healthcare system, particularly in communities where access to larger hospitals may be limited.

The condition of the facility has also raised questions because a plaque reportedly displayed at the building indicates that it had previously been renovated.

MonITNG questioned why the centre remained in such a poor state if renovation work had been carried out.

The organisation called on the Niger State Government to disclose details of the reported renovation, including the nature and scope of the work carried out, the amount spent and the contractor responsible.

It also urged authorities to inspect the centre and determine whether the previous renovation was properly executed.

The concerns have been raised against the backdrop of Niger State’s allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

According to the figures cited in the report, Niger State received approximately ₦48.37 billion in FAAC allocations between January and March 2026.

MonITNG questioned why residents of Anguwa Rimi continue to receive basic healthcare in a facility described as being in such poor condition despite the state’s substantial financial resources.

The organisation said the state government should explain how funds allocated for healthcare and infrastructure are being deployed, particularly at the community level where residents depend heavily on public facilities.

MonITNG appealed directly to Governor Bago and other relevant authorities to visit the facility, assess its condition and take immediate steps to restore it.

The organisation also called for transparency regarding the reported renovation, including the publication of the cost of the project and the identity of the contractor involved.

It maintained that public resources should translate into functional and safe services for residents.

The organisation also tagged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, in its appeal for intervention.

The condition of the facility has renewed concerns about the state of primary healthcare infrastructure in Nigerian communities.

Primary healthcare centres play a crucial role in providing basic medical services, maternal care, child immunisation and early treatment, particularly for residents who cannot easily access specialist or tertiary hospitals.

When such facilities are poorly maintained, residents may be forced to travel farther for treatment, potentially increasing the cost and difficulty of accessing healthcare.

Official polling-unit records identify a Basic Health Centre in Kwamba within Suleja, while Anguwa Rimi is also listed among communities in the area.

The calls for intervention therefore centre not only on repairing the physical structure but also on ensuring that the facility has the necessary equipment, supplies and working environment to provide safe and effective healthcare.

MonITNG’s concerns have placed renewed focus on the need for transparency in the management of public funds earmarked for healthcare infrastructure.

The organisation is seeking explanations from the Niger State Government on the reported renovation and wants authorities to establish what work was undertaken, how much was spent and whether the project achieved its intended purpose.

For residents of Anguwa Rimi, the immediate priority remains the restoration of the health centre to a safe and functional condition.