News

Abandoned General Hospital Nasarawa Faces Rapid Decay, Calls For Government Intervention

The former General Hospital, Nasarawa building, has been left in a state of neglect and abandonment following the construction and commissioning of the Nasarawa Model Hospital by the administration of former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in 2019, which led to the relocation of staff and services to the new facility.

Investigations by Ideal Reporters reveal that since the movement of personnel and equipment to the new site, the old hospital complex has remained unused, with no maintainance over the years. The once-functional health facility, which was constructed to standard, now bears clear signs of deterioration—broken ceilings, rusting roofing sheets, and overgrown surroundings.

Community members who spoke to Ideal Reporters expressed deep concern over the condition of the facility, describing it as a major loss to the people. A resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, lamented that “the hospital used to serve hundreds of patients from Nasarawa and neighboring communities, but now it is a home for reptiles.”

He added that with the growing population and pressure on existing health facilities, the abandoned hospital could have been converted into an institution of learning, training center, skills acquisition institute, or community rehabilitation center.

Medical professionals within the town also voiced concern over the lack of contingency plans to sustain or convert the old hospital. A nurse who preferred anonymity said, “When the relocation happened in 2019, we expected the government to announce a new purpose for the old site, but nothing was done. It’s painful to see such a large structure wasting away.”

Experts warn that the structure, though originally built to standard, is already catching up with obsolescence due to prolonged disuse and lack of routine maintenance. They cautioned that without urgent intervention, the facility could completely collapse in a few years.

Concerned citizens have therefore appealed to the Nasarawa State Government to take immediate steps to convert the abandoned facility for an important public use—such as a specialized health or training center—before it becomes irredeemable.

The abandoned General Hospital, Nasarawa, once served as the principal healthcare institution in the area before its replacement by the Model Hospital. Today, however, it stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting public infrastructure and the urgent need for sustainable asset management in governance.