Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has ordered the immediate suspension of the over ₦1.3 billion renovation and remodelling contract for Gumel General Hospital, citing poor performance, substandard workmanship and unacceptable progress by the contractor.

The governor announced the decision after conducting an unscheduled midnight inspection of the health facility, where he personally assessed the pace and quality of work on the project.

During the inspection, Namadi toured critical sections of the hospital, including the female and male wards, the General Out-Patient Department (GOPD), as well as the isolation centre.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the level of execution, the governor said the work carried out fell far below the standard approved by the state government.

“The progress is very poor. We approved a complete renovation and remodelling of this hospital, but what I have seen is not what we asked for. I have directed that the contract be suspended immediately,” he declared.

Namadi stressed that the state government had committed huge public funds to transform the hospital into a modern healthcare facility and would not tolerate poor workmanship or needless delays capable of undermining the project’s objectives.

He consequently directed the Ministry of Health to suspend the contractor and initiate all necessary measures to protect government funds while ensuring the project is executed in line with approved specifications.

The contract for the comprehensive renovation and remodelling of Gumel General Hospital was awarded to Yasmeen Automobile Nigeria Limited on December 17, 2025, at a cost exceeding ₦1.3 billion, with an eight-month completion timeline.

However, seven months into the project, Governor Namadi described the level of work completed as grossly unsatisfactory, insisting that the contractor had failed to justify the confidence reposed in it.

The governor also extended the inspection to Ringim General Hospital, where he identified areas requiring urgent improvement and directed the contractor handling the project to accelerate work while maintaining the required quality standards.

Namadi warned contractors executing government projects across Jigawa State that his administration would enforce strict compliance with contractual obligations, adding that no contractor would be allowed to compromise quality or waste public resources.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to accountability, transparency and value-for-money in project execution, particularly in the health sector, noting that every investment must translate into better healthcare services for the people of the state. (TRIBUNE)

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