Nasarawa Governor Sule Orders Probe Into Alleged Sale of Donated Hospital Mattresses, Fans

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations that mattresses and fans donated to Umaisha General Hospital in Toto Local Government Area were sold or removed from the facility.

The controversy followed a visit to the hospital by the lawmaker representing Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Sa’ad Abdullahi. The lawmaker had gone to inspect the condition of the facility and check on medical items he personally purchased and donated for the benefit of residents.

Among the items donated were 50 orthopaedic mattresses, 50 ceiling fans and 40 standing fans. However, during his visit, Abdullahi reportedly questioned hospital staff over the whereabouts and condition of the items.

The matter was raised by Governor Sule on Wednesday during the inauguration of eight new commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries and board members at the Aliyu Akwe-Doma Banquet Hall, Government House, Lafia. The governor said he was concerned by the allegations and had requested a report on the incident.

Sule said the lawmaker had made the donations because of concerns about the condition of healthcare services in his constituency, describing the alleged disappearance or sale of the items as unacceptable. He directed the relevant authorities to investigate the matter and submit their findings before the end of the week.

During the hospital visit, Abdullahi confronted staff members over the mattresses and fans, asking them to account for the donated equipment. He also recalled a previous conversation with a doctor who had reportedly told him that the mattresses were still kept in the hospital’s store.

One of the hospital staff members later explained that about seven of the 50 mattresses had been temporarily given to patients who were being discharged, with an arrangement for the items to be returned. The explanation came after the lawmaker demanded to see the donated mattresses and other equipment.

The governor’s intervention is expected to establish what happened to the donated items and determine whether any hospital personnel breached official procedures. The investigation could also raise wider questions about the management and accountability of donated medical equipment in public health facilities.

For now, the Nasarawa State Government is awaiting the requested report, which is expected to clarify the whereabouts of the mattresses and fans and establish whether any wrongdoing occurred.