When Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu) assumed leadership of Kebbi state in 2023, he inherited a healthcare sector bursting at the seams. Dilapidated health facilities lined communities across the state, reinforcing Kebbi’s unenviable position among the worst-performing states in terms of maternal and child mortality indices in Nigeria.
As a man who appeared to understand that leadership begins with an honest diagnosis, he did not shy away from laying bare the grim reality. In an interview with newsmen, he revealed that there were hospitals where patients had to lie on the floor due to the absence of basic hospital beds. Looking at what has been achieved so far, that admission was indeed a signal of intent. He made it clear that he would not leave the sector in the same state he met it.
Gov. Nasir made the resolution knowing full well, that the challenges confronting healthcare in Kebbi state were neither isolated nor simplistic; they were layered. The first, which confronts anyone who approaches a health facility, was the visible decay in infrastructure. The second, not always visible, was the persistent shortage of trained personnel. Then there was the long-standing issue of poor welfare for health workers, which had over time contributed to low morale and, in some cases, migration of professionals out of the state. Addressing such a complex web of problems required a coordinated, holistic approach. That is precisely the path Governor Idris chose.
A look at hospitals wearing new looks across Kebbi today shows that there is a renewed sense of urgency in the health sector, renovation and upgrading of facilities are being pursued with a speed that available resources can sustain. In Argungu, the seat of the ancient and UNESCO-recognised Argungu Fishing Festival, residents recently expressed appreciation following the comprehensive overhaul of the General Hospital Argungu. The facility, once emblematic of neglect, has been transformed into a modern healthcare centre equipped with improved diagnostic and treatment infrastructure.
This intervention in Argungu is not an isolated case. In Birnin Kebbi, the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, one of the state’s major referral centres, has undergone significant renovation and re-equipping. Similarly, upgrades have been extended to facilities such as the General Hospital Yauri and the General Hospital Zuru, alongside several primary healthcare centres scattered across local government areas.
The logic behind the deliberate focus on primary healthcare centres is both strategic and pragmatic. While tertiary institutions often dominate policy conversations, healthcare delivery in Nigeria fundamentally begins at the grassroots. Primary healthcare centres remain the first point of contact for the majority of citizens, particularly those in rural communities. Therefore, the government is, by strengthening these facilities, not only easing pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals but also ensuring that preventable conditions are addressed early before they escalate into life-threatening complications.
Expectedly, this layered investment is beginning to yield results. Improved infrastructure has enhanced patient confidence in public health institutions, while access to care in previously underserved areas has incrementally improved. Though the journey is far from complete, the direction is unmistakable.
Yet, even the most equipped facilities cannot function without skilled personnel. This reality appears to have shaped the administration’s next line of intervention. Gov. Idris was faced with a choice to either continue to depend largely on health workers trained outside the state or build an internal pipeline capable of sustaining the sector in the long term. He chose the latter.
One of the flagship initiatives under this vision is the establishment of the Kauran Gwandu College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences in Ambursa. The institution is designed to expand the training capacity for nurses and midwives, directly addressing the chronic shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural communities. By investing in local training, the state is not only producing manpower but also increasing the likelihood of retention, as locally trained professionals are often more inclined to serve within their communities.
However, training alone is not enough. Retention is equally critical, and retention is largely driven by welfare. Recognising this, the Idris administration has introduced a number of welfare improvement measures aimed at motivating healthcare workers and stabilising the workforce.
Among these measures is the implementation of improved remuneration structures for health personnel, including the payment of hazard allowances and adjustments aligned with national health salary benchmarks. The administration has also prioritised the prompt payment of salaries and allowances, an issue that has historically plagued the sector in many states. In addition, recruitment drives have been initiated to bridge manpower gaps, thereby reducing the workload burden on existing staff.
There have also been targeted incentives designed to encourage rural postings, where shortages are often most acute. By making rural service more attractive, the government is attempting to correct the uneven distribution of health workers between urban and rural areas. Training opportunities and professional development programmes have further complemented these efforts, giving health workers a sense of career progression rather than stagnation.
Taken together, these welfare interventions reflect an understanding that healthcare reform is not just about buildings and equipment but about the people who do the work like doctors, nurses, midwives, and support staff who form the backbone of the system.
What is emerging in Kebbi state, therefore, is not a series of disconnected projects but a coordinated attempt at systemic reform. Infrastructure is being rebuilt as quickly as human capacity is being developed. Similarly, welfare issues are being addressed. That understanding is that each of these elements reinforces the other.
Of course, it would be premature to declare total victory. The healthcare challenges in Kebbi state, like in many parts of Nigeria, are deeply rooted and will require sustained commitment over time. Issues such as population growth, funding constraints, and evolving health threats will continue to test the resilience of the system. However, what can be said with some confidence is that the foundation for a functional healthcare system is being deliberately laid.
In a country where policy continuity is often sacrificed at the altar of political transition, the early steps taken by Gov. Nasir Idris in Kebbi’s health sector stand out for their clarity of purpose and structural focus. The emphasis is not merely on immediate optics but on building a system that can endure. If sustained, these interventions have the potential to significantly alter the healthcare landscape of Kebbi state, reducing maternal and child mortality, improving life expectancy, and restoring public trust in government health institutions.
And, there’s no better way of ensuring that these gains are sustained, than by re-electing Gov. Idris for another term in the forthcoming elections. Without running the risk of sounding partisan, I believe it is best to pitch tent with the one who is laying a solid foundation than to get sucked into the empty rhetoric of those promising to build castles in the air.
While, for now, the signs are modest yet encouraging, it must also be noted that healthcare is a sector where incremental progress naturally translates into saved lives. Then, imagine that these modest achievements are wiped out by an administration less inclined about healthcare delivery. This is where the people of Kebbi have a role to play. They can ensure that these incremental changes continue. And this is by standing with Gov. Idris in the 2027 election. He has shown clearly that he understands what is required, not only in the health sector but across every sphere of governance. Yet, only continuity can guarantee that his plan of impact can reach full maturity.