Zamfara Government Takes Over ABU Sickbay for Renovation and Upgrade

The Zamfara State Government has taken over the Medical Centre of Ahmadu Bello University for rehabilitation and upgrade.

The government took over the facility, popularly known as the Sickbay, at a brief ceremony at the medical centre inside the Main Campus, ABU, Samaru, Zaria, held on Saturday, 25th July, 2026.

The contract for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the medical centre was awarded to Lakeside Ventures Limited.

His Excellency, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, approved the project. This followed a request to the governor by the university through the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, for intervention to rehabilitate and upgrade the medical facility.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, led members of the University Management in receiving the high-powered team from the Zamfara State Government who came for the historic occasion.

Governor Dauda Lawal Dare's Special Adviser on Infrastructure and Urban Renewal, Arc. Ibrahim Mohammed Agige, led the delegation from Zamfara for the taking over of the project site.

The Director, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Junaid Lamido, was on the delegation.

The delegation also came with a technical team from the Zamfara State Ministry of Works and Transport, comprising the Director, Architecture and Building, Engr. Samaila Abdullahi Gurbi, and Arc. Anas Maigari.

The contractor for the project, Mohammed Nuraddeen Lugga, was equally present.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Infrastructure and Urban Renewal, Arc. Ibrahim Mohammed Agige, said: “His Excellency, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, is always ready to intervene in areas like this for the betterment of education in his alma mater.”

He stressed that the project would begin in earnest and assured that quality work would be executed.

The contractor, Mohammed Nuraddeen Lugga, also spoke, saying his company was better equipped to deliver good results.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, stated that what Governor Dauda Lawal Dare was doing for ABU was beyond what an alumnus would do.

The governor, according to the Vice-Chancellor, was indeed contributing to the legacy of the premier university.

Prof Ahmed recalled that after forwarding the university's request for the project, Governor Dauda Lawal asked him for more areas the university needed intervention.

He said the university could not thank the governor enough for what he had been doing for the institution even before becoming the Executive Governor of Zamfara State.

Prof Ahmed said the request for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the medical centre was because the facility has the highest enrolment of NHIS members.

"You can see the pressure from students, staff, and members of the host community and beyond," he said.

Also speaking, the Director, University Health Services, Prof. Dauda M. Maigatari, gave an overview of the services offered by the Medical Centre. Prof Maigatari described the intervention as timely given the high demand for medical services at the facility.

Speaking on behalf of all the students, the Vice President of the Student Representative Council, SRC, Comrade Salisu Lawan Lafiya, described the gesture as a testimony that "democracy exists."

He thanked the governor for the intervention which, according to him, would benefit not only students from Zamfara State, but also students from all over the country.

A vote of thanks was delivered by the Acting Director, Physical Planning and Municipal Services, Arc. Mohammed Halilu Muktar, appreciating the governor immensely for the project.

The Registrar, Rabiu Samaila; Acting University Librarian, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi Mohammed; and Acting Chief Security Officer, Malam Ashiru T. Zango, witnessed the event.

Also present were the Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ibrahim Sani Kaita; and Deputy Director, Physical Planning and Municipal Services, Tpl. Abubakar Sani.