Nasarawa gov probes diversion of hospital mattresses, fans

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has described as unacceptable, the allegations by a lawmaker that orthopedic mattresses and fans he donated to a hospital in his constituency were diverted for private use shortly after the donation

The Honourable member representing Umaisha/Ugya constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, in a now viral video had demanded an explanation over the whereabouts of the items he donated to the Umaisha General Hospital in the Toto Local Government Area of the state.

To this end, Governor Sule directed a detailed investigation into the matter to ascertain the true situation of things, insisting that such reckless attitude of diverting hospital equipment will not be allowed in any of the healthcare facilities across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

Our correspondent reports that in the viral video, the visibly angry lawmaker accused the hospital staff of failing to produce the 50 orthopedic mattresses, 50 ceiling fans and 40 standing fans he claimed to have bought with his personal money for patients.

Speaking on the incident during an event organised by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, on Wednesday in Lafia, the state capital, Governor Abdullahi Sule recommended the sack of all the healthcare workers involved in the alleged diversion of the hospital equipment.

He said, “I am sure you have heard about the situation we are investigating in Umaisha. It was the devoted and committed member of the House of Assembly from Umaisha who went and bought fans, mattresses, and other things for a small clinic that he has. By the time he came back, the hospital staff or doctors decided to sell all of those equipment.

“And I cannot see how somebody who works in the hospital actually will now allow himself, when somebody is helping you to have these things and actually do that.

“But I have already asked the Honourable Commissioner for Health to investigate, to dismiss and fire those involved in the matter, and after that, to prosecute them. Because firing them to go free will not give us peace of mind until we prosecute them for this inhuman attitude of theirs to actually allow their people to die when they are enjoying the little money they sold the mattresses, for probably half of the price.”

The governor further directed the State Civil Service to collaborate with the Ministry of Health in order to ensure that appropriate actions are taken based on the involvements of the hospital staff in the matter.

“I’m waiting for the commissioner’s report and based on that report, I don’t even want to hear anything else. In fact, if he has no right to fire them, it is the civil service, he should fire them and copy the civil service so that they can now find a way to do it. So that is the way that I want you to look at it,” Sule emphasised.

Clarifying the issue in a press statement made available to journalists in Lafia on Wednesday, the lawmaker, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad said he made the outburst during a visit to the medical facility during a two-day medical outreach in the area.

He lamented that during the visit, he observed that the Orthopaedic mattresses, standing and ceiling fans were not sited in the wards, hence he demanded to be shown where they were kept.

However, Sa’ad said he had been informed that the Ministry of Health, Lafia in conjunction with the Hospital Management Board have responded swiftly to the issue, while expressing optimism that the situation will be salvaged and clarified.

He stressed, “Incidentally, I visited General Hospital, Umaisha on the 22nd of August, 2026 where I had earlier donated basic materials to equip the hospital wards for improved healthcare delivery. The items donated were orthopaedic mattresses, ceiling fans, wall fans and standing fans aimed at substantially meeting the pressing needs of our teeming patients.

“These items were delivered within a month when I assumed office. For the record, I organised a two-day Medical Outreach between 22nd and 23rd of August, 2026 that enlisted Staff of the General Hospital and some outsourced professionals to engage in Health Education, Medical Laboratory testing, Pharmaceutical services and Surgeries.

“This is a Constituency project designed to promote early disease detection and improve Community Health out-comes to the entire people of my constituency.

“The Health Intervention programme was a huge success 661 patients were attended to and 26 surgeries were carried out within the outreach period.

“In the event of the outreach, I visited the wards to ascertain the conditions of the patients, to my dismay, none of the items I earlier donated over two years ago were available for patients’ use. I was infuriated and demanded explanations. How can I be happy when my people are gravely uncomfortable while receiving medical care? How do we expect those who went through surgeries to recuperate on time so they can return to their families?

“These were the questions I envisaged during the outburst. My people voted me to protect them to deliver the dividends of democracy and I cannot be hidden in times like this.”

He added, “I want the public to note that since my visit to the hospital, the items I donated over two years ago were kept in the hospital store and some were used in the hospital quarters by staff that were posted to the facility prior to my visit.

“This press release is not aimed at discrediting the Ministry of Health, Nasarawa State neither is it politically motivated to ridicule any stakeholder affiliated to the ministry. We are partners in ensuring that the health status of the indigenes of Umaisha/Ugya are important indices in measuring the success or otherwise of our people.”

Arewa PUNCH, meanwhile, recalls that in the now viral video, the lawmaker said, “Doctor, you remember the last time I spoke with you about those orthopedic mattresses? You remember what you told me?… For Allah’s sake, don’t allow me to get upset.”

“Haba! Why are you doing like this? How can you tell me that this is the mattress I bought? Can I show you the mattresses I bought? I bought them for my people,” he lamented.

The lawmaker further demanded to know the whereabouts of the electrical appliances, further asking, “Where are the ceiling fans? Where are the ceiling fans? I bought more than 50 ceiling fans! The standing fans, I bought about 40! Where are they?” he asked.

Lamenting the condition of patients at the hospital, Hon. Sa’ad said he was told the mattresses were being moved round the wards but he insisted on being shown them.

The lawmaker said he made personal sacrifices to provide the items for his constituents. “If you were fair to me, I went and suffered. Go and look at my house in Abuja and my big compound. I refused to enjoy, I refused to be happy with myself, just to make my people happy. And you, my sweat… my sweat! Even this outreach, do you know how much I spent?”

He concluded by calling on the doctor to ensure that the items were returned.

According to the lawmaker, he returned to the hospital to assess the condition of the facility and ascertain the use of the items donated to support its operations.

The explanation by the health officials, however, did not account for all the donated items, leaving the lawmaker demanding further clarification on their whereabouts.

Our correspondent further reports that the incident had brought renewed attention to questions surrounding the management and accountability of donations made to public health facilities.