Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A sudden and controversial decision by the Taraba State Government to temporarily close the Specialist Hospital in Jalingo has stirred alarm among patients, health workers and civil society activists, as critical care services continue without clear alternatives. The closure, officially justified by authorities as necessary to allow renovation work to proceed safely and swiftly, has left some of the most vulnerable patients in the state facing potentially life‑threatening disruptions in treatment.
The directive, issued on January 8, 2026, by the Taraba State Ministry of Health and sanctioned by Governor Agbu Kefas, instructed the hospital’s management to halt all operations immediately to enable contractors to carry out renovation work free from hindrance. The government cited environmental and safety hazards associated with ongoing construction at the facility as the basis for the shutdown, without setting a date for when services might resume.
Despite the official order, field observations show that many patients remained in the hospital receiving care when journalists visited the premises soon after the closure was announced. In several wards, including maternity and medical units, treatment was ongoing, with some patients in critical condition. One elderly woman in her seventies was seen undergoing a blood transfusion — a procedure that cannot be halted without grave risk to life. At the dialysis unit, chronic kidney patients who depend on regular dialysis for survival were stranded and uncertain about their next line of care.
Medical experts and health advocates have raised urgent concerns about the implications of a blanket shutdown of services at a facility that serves as a major referral centre not only for Taraba State but also for neighbouring regions. Dialysis patients, emergency obstetric cases, trauma victims, cardiac patients, and those reliant on oxygen therapy or intensive monitoring are among those for whom continuity of care is essential. Interruptions in such care can lead to severe complications, rapid deterioration, or death, according to clinicians interviewed on site.
Government officials have defended the closure on safety grounds, asserting that the renovation work — intended to overhaul and upgrade the hospital’s infrastructure — presents hazards that make it unsafe for patients and staff to remain on site. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, emphasised that full compliance with the directive was necessary to accelerate the renovation process and ensure the long‑term functionality of the facility following completion.
However, health sector stakeholders argue that the approach taken by the Taraba authorities departs from internationally recognised best practices for hospital infrastructure upgrades. Across Nigeria and globally, major healthcare facilities undergoing renovation typically adopt a phased or sectional closure strategy, maintaining operations in critical departments — such as emergency, dialysis, maternity, and intensive care — while construction continues in less essential areas. This method helps minimise disruption to life‑saving services and protects the most vulnerable patients. In contrast, critics say a total shutdown risks avoidable deaths and undermines public trust in the health system.
The shutdown’s timing has also provoked anxiety because alternative facilities, such as the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo, may not be ready or equipped to absorb the influx of patients displaced from the Specialist Hospital. Reports suggest that some services at FMC Jalingo are already strained, including diagnostic and therapeutic units, raising questions about its capacity to serve as a viable fallback option.
Community reactions have been mixed but largely critical. Families of patients caught in the closure expressed frustration and fear, lamenting the hardship of transferring loved ones to other facilities, some of which are several kilometres away and demand higher out‑of‑pocket expenditures. For many residents, the Specialist Hospital remains a critical lifeline precisely because it is more accessible and affordable than private alternatives or distant federal centres.
Health advocacy groups have called on the Taraba State Government to urgently revisit its shutdown strategy, urging a phased renovation plan that safeguards essential medical services. They also demand a clear timeline for the resumption of operations and concrete plans for bridging gaps in care during the renovation period. Advocacy leaders emphasised that any infrastructure upgrade must balance construction imperatives with the immediate human cost, particularly for patients in life‑dependent care.
The current controversy has also reignited broader discussions about healthcare infrastructure and policy planning in Nigeria. Experts note that while improvements and renovations are necessary — and indeed long overdue in many facilities across the country — authorities must prioritise patient safety and continuity of care when implementing such changes. Failure to do so, they warn, can erode public confidence in government commitments to health‑care service delivery and exacerbate existing inequalities in access to medical care.
Taraba State’s budgetary and development plans reflect a focus on expanding and upgrading healthcare infrastructure. Past budget documents show allocations for constructing new specialist and general hospitals in other parts of the state and renovation of existing facilities as part of wider efforts to enhance service coverage. However, translating these plans into operational strategies without compromising ongoing care remains a central challenge for policymakers.
As the controversy continues to unfold, patients, health workers and civil society groups are calling for urgent, coordinated action to ensure that the health needs of the most vulnerable are not sacrificed in the pursuit of long‑term infrastructure goals. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether authorities modify their approach to balance renovation requirements with the imperatives of ongoing patient care.
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