BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – The Chief Medical Director of Nasarawa State Hospitals Management Board (NSHMB), Dr. Egba Edego, says information alleging missing hospital equipment at General Hospital, Umaisha, has unfortunately dented the image of health workers across the state.
Reacting to allegations contained in a viral video that items donated by the lawmaker representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, were missing, Dr. Edego said it was regrettable because such claims are already giving healthcare workers in the State a bad name.
Dr Edego, who addressed journalists in his office in Lafia, the state capital, said the Board is deeply concerned as the reputation of many honest medical staff is being dragged in the mud.
According to him, the lawmaker’s viral claims publicly questioning the whereabouts of fans and mattresses donated to the facility and the resultant backlash have cast serious shadow over the entire workforce in the state health sector.
He said given the seriousness of the case, the Board has already set up a committee to investigate the matter, and that the report is expected “by tomorrow or next”.
Highlighting the importance attached to the case by the Board Dr Edego said: “With that, what I will really tell you is that regarding the story on Sunday, being the 23rd of August, 2026, that very day, I constituted a committee, of which by my estimation, hopefully by tomorrow or next, the report will be out.”
Further referencing Governor Abdullahi Sule’s order mandating the Commissioner for Health to constitute another panel to probe the allegations, the CMD said, “His Excellency Governor A.A. Sule has also directed the Honourable Commissioner to set up a committee to investigate those allegations, because those allegations border on issues concerning theft, vandalization of government properties, and misinformation, of which in our Board, we don’t take it lightly.”
Maintaining that the Board would not make further comments until investigations on the matter are concluded, the CMD pledged full support and cooperation with the Commissioner’s committee, saying: “In fact, I am going to give all the necessary support to the committee that the Honourable Commissioner will set up, because the information has really tarnished the image of the staff of Hospitals Management Board and also entire staff working in the health space. I will give all the necessary support.”
Forefront News notes that Governor Sule had earlier ordered the dismissal and prosecution of any staff found culpable in the alleged sale of 50 orthopedic mattresses, 50 ceiling fans and 40 standing fans reportedly donated to the hospital by the lawmaker.
Reports also confirmed that the Governor had ordered a probe into the alleged disappearance of the items, describing the act as “inhuman”.
Consequently, he directed the Commissioner for Health to investigate, dismiss and prosecute anyone found culpable.
Meanwhile, across the entire state, this unfortunate development has ignited a fierce wave of backlash and public outrage is mounting as residents and government officials demand transparency and accountability, urging a swift end to the systemic neglect and mismanagement plaguing local healthcare facilities.
