Kebbi: Healthcare Transformation Headlining International Commendation

By Auwal Jaafar

Commendations have poured in from international partners in recognition of the healthcare transformation taking place in Kebbi state. From World Health Organization, (WHO), UNICEF, and United Nations Development Programme, Kebbi state is being celebrated for its impactful investments in primary healthcare and sustained efforts toward polio eradication in the state.

The rationale behind this thinking is that Health is wealth. And as expressions go, few have endured as long or carried as much weight. Like security and education, healthcare remains one of the most sacred obligations between the people and those who govern them. Yet, across Nigeria, that obligation has too often been treated lightly. Since Gov. Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu) assumed office in 2023, inheriting a healthcare system under severe strain, there has been a conscious effort to rewrite that narrative.

From crumbling facilities scattered across communities, clear symbols of neglect that reinforced Kebbi state’s poor standing in maternal and child health outcomes, to an acute shortage of personnel in critical centres, the situation was dire. But from the outset, the administration of Gov. Nasir signalled a determination to confront these realities head-on and improve access to healthcare for the people. And, not only the people, but even international partners have taken note.

The hack behind this success comes from understanding that leadership begins with acknowledging the problem. It is on record that governor Nasir did not attempt to mask the depth of the crisis. He openly spoke of hospitals where patients lay on bare floors due to a lack of beds. In hindsight, that candid admission was more than a statement, it was a declaration of intent. It underscored a commitment not to leave the sector as he met it.

That resolve was shaped by an awareness that Kebbi state’s healthcare challenges were layered rather than straightforward. At the surface was visibly decayed infrastructure. Beneath that lay a persistent shortage of trained personnel. Compounding both was the long-standing issue of poor welfare for health workers, which had weakened morale and driven some professionals out of the state. Addressing such interwoven problems required more than remedial fixes; it demanded a comprehensive, coordinated response. That is the route the administration has taken, and no wonder, Gov. Nasir is drawing commendation from development partners including the

Across Kebbi today, visible changes in health facilities reflect a sector regaining attention. Hospitals are being renovated and upgraded within the limits of available resources, but with a clear sense of urgency. In Argungu, home to the renowned UNESCO-recognised fishing festival, residents have welcomed the transformation of the General Hospital Argungu. Once a symbol of neglect, it now functions as a modern facility with improved capacity for diagnosis and treatment.

Argungu is only part of a broader effort. In Birnin Kebbi, the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital has undergone major rehabilitation and re-equipping, strengthening its role as a key referral centre. Similar interventions have reached the General Hospitals in Yauri and Zuru, alongside multiple primary healthcare centres spread across local government areas.

The attention to primary healthcare centres is deliberate. While tertiary institutions often dominate policy debates, the reality is that healthcare delivery in Nigeria begins at the grassroots. For many citizens, especially in rural areas, these centres are the first, and sometimes only point of access to healthcare. Strengthening them, therefore, reduces pressure on higher-level facilities and ensures that manageable conditions are treated early before becoming severe.

These combined investments are beginning to show impact. Better facilities have improved public confidence in government hospitals, and access to care in previously underserved communities is gradually expanding. The work is ongoing, but the trajectory is becoming clearer.

However, infrastructure alone cannot drive a health system. Skilled personnel remain indispensable, and this has informed the administration’s next phase of reforms. Faced with the option of relying on externally trained professionals or building local capacity, the government has opted for the latter.

A central element of this strategy is the establishment of the Kauran Gwandu College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences in Ambursa. The institution is intended to boost the training of nurses and midwives, directly tackling workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas. By training locally, the state also improves the chances of retaining professionals who are more likely to serve within their communities.

Still, producing personnel is only part of the equation. Keeping them requires attention to welfare. In recognition of this, the administration has rolled out measures aimed at improving working conditions and stabilising the workforce.

These include enhanced remuneration, such as the payment of hazard allowances and adjustments in line with national salary standards. There has also been a renewed emphasis on timely payment of salaries and allowances, an issue that has long undermined the sector in many states. Alongside this, recruitment efforts have been intensified to close manpower gaps and ease pressure on existing staff.

Targeted incentives have also been introduced to encourage postings to rural areas, where shortages are often most severe. By making such placements more appealing, the government is working to correct imbalances in the distribution of health workers. Training and professional development programmes further support this effort, offering career growth and reducing the sense of stagnation among personnel.

All of these measures together, point to a broader understanding of the fact that healthcare reform is not just about physical infrastructure but about the people who sustain it. These include doctors, nurses, midwives, and support staff.

What is unfolding in Kebbi is therefore not a collection of isolated projects, but a coordinated push toward systemic reform. Infrastructure renewal, human capacity development, and welfare improvements are being pursued in tandem, each reinforcing the other.

Naturally, it is too early to declare complete success. The challenges facing healthcare in Kebbi, as in much of Nigeria, are deeply rooted and will require sustained commitment. Population pressures, funding limitations, and emerging health threats will continue to test the system. Even so, there is growing evidence that the groundwork for a more functional healthcare system is being deliberately laid.

Yet, all of these can easily disappear if the foundation is shattered. This can happen, especially in a political environment where continuity is often disrupted. Regardless, the early direction of reforms in Kebbi state’s health sector stands out for its clarity and structural focus but it can’t be immune to continuity challenges. The emphasis goes beyond immediate results to building a system that can endure. If maintained, these efforts could significantly reshape healthcare delivery in the state, lowering maternal and child mortality rates, improving life expectancy, and rebuilding public trust.

Sustaining these gains, however, ultimately rests on continuity. There is a compelling argument for supporting the kind of leadership offered by Gov. Nasir, the kind that is already laying a solid foundation, rather than even entertaining the empty promises of opposition leaders assuring of eldorado.

While the progress may appear gradual for now, it is a well known fact that in healthcare, even small improvements translate directly into saved lives. Hence, the risk of losing such gains under a less committed administration is immediate and real. This is where the people of Kebbi state must assume responsibility for continuity, to ensure that the progress made is not only preserved but expanded. Re-electing Gov. Nasir, in this context, offers the surest path to consolidating and fully realising the reforms already underway.

Jaafar writes from Abuja

Kebbi Mega Rally: When Masses Tell Their Story

By Ibrahim Bello

Politics, by its very nature, is a contest of narratives. The opposition thrives on casting doubt, often working overtime to diminish incumbency with sharp rhetoric and selective amnesia. But while, so many incumbents allow themselves to be distracted or drawn into street brawls by the natural antics of the opposition, some simply just show the opposition what it truly means to be accepted. This they do through the people who, having experienced governance, decide to take up the job of marketing the incumbent through organic public spectacles.

That moment played out in Birnin Kebbi, over the weekend when an overwhelming crowd of Kebbi people surged in solidarity with Governor Nasir Idris, (Kauran Gwandu), and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. All those who witnessed that organic crowd noted that it was not just another rally; it was a referendum of sorts, staged not in ballot boxes, but in human numbers.

When people gather in such magnitude, uncoerced and spirited, they are not merely attending an event; they are testifying to what they have witnessed.

The chants were unmistakable. The placards told their own stories—roads completed, schools revived, hospitals upgraded, salaries paid, security strengthened. It was less of political theatre and more of a public audit, carried out by those who feel the impact most directly.

For Governor Nasir Idris, the significance of that moment goes beyond optics. It reflects a governance model that has deliberately focused on tangible outcomes rather than loud proclamations. Since assuming office in 2023, his administration has carved a reputation around visible development and administrative responsiveness.

Take infrastructure, for instance. Across Kebbi State, there has been a steady push to rehabilitate and construct roads linking communities that were previously cut off, especially during the rainy season. Roads such as the Argungu–Aleiro corridor and critical township roads within Birnin Kebbi have improved mobility, eased trade, and reduced travel time for residents and farmers alike. These are economic lifelines whose impact is already being felt.

In education, the primary constituency of the governor, the story is equally compelling. Governor Nasir has prioritised the renovation of dilapidated schools and the construction of new classrooms to address overcrowding. Beyond infrastructure, his administration approved the recruitment of thousands of teachers to bridge staffing gaps in public schools. This intervention is critical in a state where access to quality basic education remains a developmental challenge. By investing in both human and physical capital, Kebbi is gradually repositioning its education sector for long-term gains.

Healthcare delivery, often neglected in subnational governance, has also received notable attention. Several primary healthcare centres have been upgraded and equipped across the state, improving access to basic medical services in rural areas.

The administration has also supported general hospitals with essential equipment and personnel, strengthening the referral system. Perhaps, the most significant investment in this sector is the establishment of the Kebbi College of Nursing and Midwifery, Ambursa. The idea is to create a ready source for critical health workers to man the revamped hospitals.

Perhaps one of the most defining aspects of Governor Nasir’s leadership has been his approach to workers’ welfare.

As a former union leader, expectations were naturally high, and he has not disappointed. His administration moved early to implement the new national minimum wage, placing Kebbi among the states that acted swiftly in that regard.

Salaries have been paid consistently, pensions cleared, and gratuities addressed in a manner that restores dignity to retired civil servants.

With stories of struggling senior citizens across the country, Gov. Nasir’s commitment to doing right by retirees stands out indeed.

Security, though largely under federal control, has not been ignored. Kebbi has witnessed improved coordination between state authorities, the home grown security outfits and security agencies, particularly in border communities prone to banditry.

The government has supported logistics, mobility, and community engagement initiatives that contribute to maintaining relative peace. While challenges persist, the effort to proactively address them is evident.

Agriculture, the backbone of Kebbi’s economy, has also benefited from targeted interventions. The administration has supported farmers with inputs, improved seedlings, and extension services aimed at boosting productivity.

Given Kebbi’s status as a leading rice-producing state, these efforts are not just about food security, they are about economic stability and rural livelihoods.

What makes these interventions particularly significant is the broader fiscal context. Many governors have acknowledged that reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially around revenue and subsidy restructuring have increased allocations to states.

The real test, however, lies in utilisation. In Kebbi, there is a growing perception that these resources are being translated into visible development.

This is where the opposition’s narrative buckles under the weight of street level evidence and the lived reality of the people. Granted that criticism remains a vital component of democracy, but it must contend with evidence.

When roads are seen, when salaries are paid, when schools are functioning, and when hospitals are accessible, rhetoric alone cannot easily erase lived experience.

It’s no wonder then that the poster boy of Kebbi opposition, Abubakar Malami, was recently treated to a befitting welcome to Kebbi when youths lined the streets to chant “barawo bai mulki” loosely translated to mean thieves don’t govern.

The Birnin Kebbi rally, therefore, was not just about political endorsement; it was about validation. It demonstrated that governance, when rooted in delivery, builds its own constituency, one that is not easily swayed by transient political arguments.

Of course, no administration is without its shortcomings. There are still areas requiring urgent attention. Such areas as youth unemployment, deeper industrialisation, and expanded healthcare coverage, among others can be made better. Yet, the measure of leadership is not perfection; it is direction. And in Kebbi, the direction appears increasingly clear.

As 2027 gradually enters the political horizon, conversations will intensify. Alliances will shift, narratives will be refined, and ambitions will be declared. Yet, beneath all that, one fundamental question will persist: what has been done?

In answering that question, Governor Nasir Idris may not need an elaborate defence. The roads will speak; the schools will testify and the workers will remember. And, as witnessed in Birnin Kebbi, the people will gather, again, if necessary, to make their voices heard.

Because in the end, beyond party lines and political calculations, governance finds its truest expression in impact. And when impact resonates deeply enough, it does something no campaign strategy can manufacture; it draws a crowd that speaks not from gated mansions, but from the overall experience of governance as promised by a leader both unionist and welfarist.

Bello writes from Birnin Kebbi.

Misplaced Blame, Missed Priorities: Why Targeting Matawalle Won’t Fix Nigeria’s Security Crisis

By James Ezema

A U.S.-based lawmaker, Kimberly Daniels, recently called for the removal of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, stirring predictable reactions across political and media spaces. Yet, beneath the headlines lies a more important question: is Nigeria’s deepening insecurity the failure of one man or the consequence of entrenched systemic weaknesses?

Reducing a complex, multi-layered national security crisis to the performance of a single officeholder is not only analytically flawed—it risks distracting from the structural reforms Nigeria urgently needs.

A CRISIS DECADES IN THE MAKING

Nigeria’s insecurity did not begin with Matawalle, nor with the current administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. From the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and communal conflicts/farmers/herders clashes in parts of the Middle Belt, the country’s security challenges are rooted in long-standing governance gaps.

These include:
I. Weak policing structures and chronic underfunding of the Nigerian Police Force
II. Poor intelligence coordination across security agencies
III. Proliferation of small arms and porous borders
IV. Socioeconomic drivers such as poverty, unemployment, and rural marginalisation
V. Over-reliance on the military for internal security duties

Any serious diagnosis must begin here—not with a politically convenient scapegoat.

MATAWALLE’S RECORD: A MORE BALANCED VIEW

Since his appointment as Minister of State for Defence in 2023, Matawalle has operated within a highly centralised and historically constrained security architecture. Yet, within these limitations, his contributions have been tangible and deserve objective recognition.

First, he has been instrumental in supporting expanded military operations against bandit enclaves in the North-West, particularly through enhanced coordination between ground forces and air components. These operations have disrupted several criminal networks and led to the neutralisation of key warlords.

Second, Matawalle has consistently advocated for both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, recognising that force alone cannot resolve insurgencies. His experience as a former governor of Zamfara State informed initiatives that combined military pressure with local engagement strategies aimed at de-escalating violence.

Third, under his watch, there has been increased emphasis on troop welfare and logistics support, including improved supply lines and operational readiness—critical factors often overlooked in public discourse but essential to battlefield effectiveness.

Fourth, he has played a role in strengthening Nigeria’s defence diplomacy, engaging regional and international partners to support intelligence sharing and counterterrorism cooperation.

None of these efforts suggest perfection. But they do indicate active engagement with the problem—not complicity in it, as some narratives have implied without substantiated proof.

THE DANGER OF SIMPLISTIC NARRATIVES

The recommendation by Kimberly Daniels reflects a broader trend in international commentary: the urge to personalise systemic failures. While such positions may be well-intentioned, they often lack the contextual depth required to understand Nigeria’s unique security environment.

Symbolic dismissals do not achieve security sector reform. In fact, abrupt leadership changes without structural adjustments can disrupt continuity, weaken morale, and create further instability within the ranks.

Blaming Matawalle alone risks creating a false sense of action while leaving the real problems untouched.

THE REAL ISSUE: A DISTORTED SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

At the heart of Nigeria’s security crisis lies a fundamental misalignment: the military has been overstretched with internal security responsibilities that should primarily belong to the police.

The Nigeria Police Force, constitutionally mandated to handle internal law enforcement, has been weakened over decades by inadequate funding, poor training, and limited operational capacity.

As a result:
I. Soldiers are deployed for routine policing duties.
II. Military resources are stretched thin across multiple internal theatres.
III. Response times and intelligence gathering suffer
IV. Civil-military relations become strained.

The current approach is neither sustainable nor strategically sound.

A WAY FORWARD: REBALANCING SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES

Rather than focusing on individual removals, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration should prioritise a phased and deliberate restructuring of Nigeria’s internal security framework.

This must include:
I. Gradual re-equipping and modernisation of the Nigeria Police Force—with emphasis on mobility, communications, forensic capacity, and community policing.
II. Comprehensive retraining programmes to enhance professionalism and intelligence-led policing
III. Decentralisation of policing structures, allowing for more responsive state and local security mechanisms
IV. Strategic withdrawal of the military from routine internal operations, reserving its deployment for specialised interventions and external defence roles
V. Strengthening inter-agency coordination, ensuring seamless collaboration between police, intelligence services, and the armed forces.

Only through such systemic reforms can Nigeria build a security architecture capable of addressing both current threats and future risks.

CONCLUSION: BEYOND BLAME TO SOLUTIONS

Nigeria is currently facing a crucial moment. The temptation to assign blame to individuals may offer short-term political satisfaction, but it does little to resolve long-standing structural deficiencies, such as inadequate infrastructure, corruption, and ineffective governance that require comprehensive solutions.

Dr Bello Matawalle is not above scrutiny—no public official should be. However, any fair assessment must be grounded in evidence, context, and a clear understanding of institutional constraints.

The path to lasting security lies not in scapegoating but in bold, systemic reform. It lies in rebuilding institutions, redefining roles, and restoring balance within Nigeria’s security ecosystem.

Above all, it requires leadership that is willing to confront complexity—not reduce it.

Until then, calls for removal—no matter how loudly amplified—risk being nothing more than noise in place of necessary action.

Comrade James Ezema is a journalist, political strategist, and public affairs analyst. He serves as National Vice-President (Investigation) of the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists (NGIJ) and National President of the Association of Bloggers and Journalists Against Fake News (ABJFN). He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.