Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commissioned a new Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) and an urban road project in Lafia, the state capital .
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Lafia on Monday, Governor Sule said that local governments across the state have operated with full financial independence since he assumed office in 2019.
He dismissed assertions that council autonomy only began under President Bola Tinubu, clarifying that Nasarawa’s local councils have directly managed their allocations and executed developmental works for years.
He commended Lafia Local Government Chairman, Mr. Haliru Arabo, for constructing and equipping the healthcare facility to a high standard without relying on state government funding, encouraging local council leaders to stay focused on public delivery despite political criticism.
Governor Sule noted that similar council-funded, federal-standard road developments were recently completed in Wamba, Akwanga, Nasarawa-Eggon, and Doma.
Addressing the branding of state infrastructure, Sule expressed discomfort with having facilities named after him while actively serving in office.
He explained that the “A.A. Sule Legacy” branding on completed projects functions purely as official documentation of execution rather than personal naming, ensuring accountability against future political misinformation.
The governor also announced the imminent resumption of work on the long-abandoned Kwandere-Karshi road, saying that the project will be upgraded to a standard federal highway featuring a stone base and asphalt pavement at an adjusted cost of approximately N40 billion, following negotiations that reduced the original contract sum from over N50 billion.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna while detailing the medical scope of the facility, classified the new PHC as a Level 2 centre designed to provide maternal delivery, antenatal care, routine immunisations, and malaria treatment to residents of the Government Reserved Area (GRA).
He added that independent assessors from the Federal Ministry of Health praised Nasarawa’s primary health centers for maintaining staffing levels comparable to general hospitals.
Commissioner for Local Government, Hon. Aminu Maifata, noted that the facility’s completion was made possible by the state’s policy of fully releasing signature bonuses to local administrations, alongside administrative guidance to re-invest savings into public infrastructure.
On his part, Lafia LGA Chairman Haliru Arabo emphasised that the healthcare center addresses a critical service gap in the GRA community, which previously lacked an accessible local clinic.
