By Jelili Gbadamosi
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has directed the state Ministry of Health to investigate the alleged disappearance and sale of medical equipment donated to the General Hospital, Umaisha.
The governor also ordered that any health worker found culpable after the investigation should be arrested and prosecuted.
Sule issued the directive on Wednesday during the inauguration of eight commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries and board members at the Government House in Lafia.
He described the alleged sale of the equipment as unacceptable, saying the incident amounted to serious misconduct and corruption that could undermine healthcare delivery to residents.
The governor directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, to investigate the matter and submit the findings by the end of the week.
According to Sule, the equipment was provided by Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, who reportedly purchased the items with his personal funds to improve conditions at the healthcare facility.
Sule said the lawmaker later returned to the hospital and discovered that some of the donated items had allegedly been sold.
The governor expressed concern that such actions could deprive patients of essential facilities and undermine efforts to improve healthcare services in the state.
The directive followed a confrontation on Monday between Sa’ad and hospital staff over the whereabouts of the equipment.
In a video circulated on social media, the lawmaker questioned hospital officials about 50 orthopaedic mattresses, more than 50 ceiling fans and about 40 standing fans he said he had purchased for patients.
Sa’ad also demanded an explanation over reports that some of the mattresses were being moved between wards.
The investigation is expected to establish what happened to the donated equipment and identify those responsible for any wrongdoing.
