The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has called on the Federal Government to establish a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Southern Kaduna, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance healthcare access and save lives in the region.
In a statement issued Tuesday, NCYP Chairman Isaac Abrak highlighted that Southern Kaduna, which comprises 12 of Kaduna State’s 23 Local Government Areas and 57% of its landmass, lacks sufficient federal infrastructure, with only one existing federal institution, the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok.
Abrak noted that residents of Southern Kaduna currently face significant challenges accessing advanced medical care, often traveling up to 300 kilometers to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital or Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria. He argued that an FMC in the region would address this healthcare gap, improve public hospitals, attract health professionals, and enhance overall healthcare delivery.
The NCYP also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Southern Kaduna, through a bill sponsored by Senator Marshal Katung. However, the group expressed concern over the recent allocation of four additional federal institutions to Zaria, which already hosts 12 federal establishments, risking the marginalization of other parts of the state.
“These new institutions further centralize federal presence in Zone 1 (Zaria), leaving Southern Kaduna underserved,” Abrak stated. He urged the Federal Government, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and other stakeholders to adopt a more equitable distribution of federal projects to promote balanced development.
The NCYP reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness, advocating for policies that foster equitable growth and development across Nigeria, particularly in the northern region.
