Opinion

Why Jos orthopedic hospital should not relocate

Published

4 years ago

January 20, 2023

vicky

Residents of Plateau State were full of joy when President Muhammadu Buhari, in July 2021, signed into law the Act establishing the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos.

Many people, especially the residents of Jos North Local Government Area felt that, at least for the first time, a tangible development is in the pipeline, perhaps in a show of the federal government’s appreciation for the overwhelming support it has been enjoying from especially, the Hausa and Fulani communities in the LGA.

It is expected that by now, almost six months down the line, the actual site for the hospital infrastructure is given by the state government, hopefully, the abandoned former Jos University Teaching Hospital, situated at the city center, or alternatively secure another land, suggestively, around Narkuta village. But, alas, some available facts at my disporsal are indicating that the affiliating body of the hospital, being the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, has concluded plans to relocate the hospital to an unlawful place entirely out of the lawful geographical area of Jos as stipulated in the Act establishing the Orthopedic hospital.

A reliable source at the Federal Ministry of Health has revealed that there was a pending visibility report recommending relocating the hospital from Jos to Barkin Ladi. This information was confirmed by the Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Pokop Bupwatda. On November 20, 2022, Mr. Makut Macham, the Director of Press to Governor Simon Lalong, quoted the CMD, on a courtesy visit to have told Lalong that:

“The National Orthopedic Hospital affiliated to the University of Jos and to be located in the Lalong Legacy Model Hospital Barkin Ladi as one of the many good things the governor has done to improve the standard of the hospital.” This was yet another clear gross violation of the: “Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board (Amendment) Act, 2021.”

Herein, I reproduce the amended Act, for all to reason thus: “…amends the Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board Act, Cap. O10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for the establishment of the Orthopedic Hospital Jos, Plateau State under the control of the Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board and affiliated to the Jos University Teaching Hospital to provide specialized orthopedic treatment and medical services. The Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board Act, Cap, O10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 in this Act referred to as “the Principal Act” is amended as set out in this Act. The Second Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by inserting after paragraph 3 a new paragraph 4. The Orthopedic Hospital, Jos, Plateau”.

It is glaring from the forgoing facts that any attempt by whoever or whatever person or authority to relocate the project from Jos elsewhere, is amounting to inflicting serious injury on the rule of law, and by extension, the good people of Jos who have labored so much to bring in the APC led government.

It is indeed sad to hear the news that the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, is being lobbied and under intense pressure to be an agent of disobedience of the law, should he concede to the unlawful sitting if the hospital away from Jos.

It will be of great interest to all Nigerians, in general terms, the minister of health and all concerned, to know that shifting the hospital will amount to flagrant abuse of our rights, being one of those communities that have so much labored for the successes of the APC in all ramifications.

I am also of the firm view that the minister of health and the Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board should not be part of illegality.

To me and any other mindful person, it will be unbecoming of the attitude of Governor Lalong, who is known for upholding lawful process, and being a just leader to all Plateau citizens, to have allowed the such an unlawful thing to happen. And so in this regard, we are calling on him not only to discourage it, but to also work at ensuring that the Orthopedic Hospital is sited in Jos, in accordance with the extant Act establishing it.

It is also my hope and belief that President Muhammadu Buhari will intervene to ensure that the right thing is adhered to, by directing the minister of health, as well as the Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board, to strictly abide by the Act establishing the hospital in Jos.

It isn’t a secret that civil protestations from members of the Hausa and Fulani, mainly Muslims, have hit the road to the 2023 elections which the APC-led government has enjoyed their support but is now threatening to withdraw such voting support due to the persistent neglect and outright disregard to our plights by the government, should the planned unlawful shifting of the orthopedic hospital from lawful site in Jos, to elsewhere become a reality.

Alhaji Dan’Asabe Muhammad Tanko,

Jos

Related Topics:Jos orthopedic hospital should not relocate Orthopaedic Hospital

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Presidency Replies Cardinal Onaiyekan, Says Remarks Were Political, Not Representative of All Christians

Published

2 weeks ago

August 3, 2026

Preport

The Presidency has dismissed comments by Cardinal John Onaiyekan criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing the cleric’s remarks as personal and political rather than representative of the entire Christian community in Nigeria.

The President’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the remarks in a post on his X account on Saturday, August 1, while responding to Onaiyekan’s criticism following the recent visit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to the President.

Cardinal Onaiyekan had accused the Tinubu administration of being more focused on winning political contests than addressing the country’s pressing challenges.

Responding, Bwala argued that the cardinal was expressing the views of the Catholic Church and not speaking on behalf of all Christians in Nigeria. He also claimed that the Catholic institution largely supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election.

According to Bwala, the cardinal’s comments were political rather than spiritual and did not reflect the opinions of all Catholic faithful.

“Cardinal Onaiyekan wasn’t speaking for Christians; he was speaking for Catholics, the very institutions rooting for Peter Obi. In fact, likely the institution where Peter Obi also said in 2022, ‘Take back your country.’ Therefore, the Cardinal is more political than spiritual. And not all Catholic members are supporting Peter Obi,” he wrote.

Bwala also defended President Tinubu’s response to the Catholic bishops’ assessment of the nation’s economy, arguing that the President was entitled to disagree based on available economic data.

“The President was well within his right to disagree with their assertion regarding Nigeria’s economy based purely on facts, statistics and numbers considered within the proper context,” he stated.

He further accused the cleric of applying a different standard to members of the church, suggesting that religious leaders often encourage worshippers to make positive declarations despite difficult circumstances.

“Ironically, the same priest would rebuke their members if they said, ‘We are suffering’ or ‘We are poor.’ They would instead tell them to declare, ‘We are doing great’ or ‘We are rich,’ even when they are facing hardship,” Bwala added.

The presidential aide maintained that there is a broader Christian body comprising various denominations, including the Catholic Church and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and argued that such organisations should remain politically neutral.

“There is a body comprising all Christians, including the Catholics and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and that body’s position is neutral and should remain so; otherwise, it becomes political,” he said.

The exchange follows renewed public debate over the role of religious leaders in commenting on governance and national affairs.

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‘Security operatives connive with local militias to kill our people’ – Fulani youth leader alleges

Published

2 weeks ago

August 3, 2026

Preport

A Fulani youth leader in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Umar Yusuf, has accused security operatives of conniving with local militia gangs to kill herders, steal their cows and extort money from them to release the livestock.

Yusuf, who made the allegations during a town hall meeting convened by the Kautal Pulaaku Fulbe Association of Nigeria, KPFAN, on Saturday, said operatives of security agencies in the council go on raids alongside local Irigwe youths where they attack innocent herders, kill them and rustle their cattle.

While speaking during the meeting, Yusuf said the practice has been going on for years and has gotten worse in recent times.

“What has been happening in Bassa and other parts of Plateau State is a very worrisome situation.

“You will be surprised to hear that security personnel connive with local Irigwe militants to attack Fulani herdsmen during raids on Fulani communities,” he said.

He further alleged that during such raids, some of which end up with casualties, cows are seized from the communities while the owners are later made to pay huge amounts of money to get them back.

“Our cattle are seized and stolen from us and taken to a military camp for days, weeks and sometimes months without an iota of reason for farm encroachment whatsoever.

“We will then have to pay huge sums of money to get them back from the security people. We, the Fulani herders, face severe economic backwardness as a result of this. We deserve protection as much as others,” Yusuf said.

He further alleged that on July 30th, some Fulani herders were attacked by armed Irigwe youths along with some security personnel, during which six cows were killed and others severely injured in an unprovoked attack at Ancha village in the LGA, while a herdsman identified as Muhammadu Rebo was killed while grazing peacefully without encroaching on any farmland.