₦8bn Hospitals Left Locked for 3 Years as Maternal Deaths Surge
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly criticized the Federal Government over the neglect of multibillion-naira healthcare facilities named after former President Muhammadu Buhari. Pointing to rising maternal mortality figures across the country, the opposition questioned the ruling party’s governance priorities for leaving these abandoned hospitals locked while vulnerable women and children struggle for basic care.
Investigation Uncovers ₦8 Billion Healthcare Waste
The outcry follows an investigative report published by TheCable, which revealed that eight healthcare facilities built with roughly ₦8 billion have turned into abandoned hospitals or remain non-functional three years after being officially commissioned.
In one notable finding in Ibadan, the Muhammadu Buhari Mother and Child Hospital remained locked and idle despite repeated monitoring visits over a 15-month period. Across several states, state-of-the-art medical equipment and wards meant to save lives have been left completely unutilized.
NDC Demands Accountability Over Fuel Subsidy Savings
Reacting to the findings, the NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for neglecting critical public services.
He argued that revenues generated from fuel subsidy removal should have been directed straight into operationalizing healthcare centres, hiring medical staff, and procuring medicines.
“And you people still say we should not kick the APC out? Jonathan reinvested subsidy money in health through SURE-P. What are these ones doing?”
As detailed by Premium Times Nigeria, critics argue that the existence of these abandoned hospitals highlights a persistent pattern where government focuses on launching physical projects for political visibility without establishing sustainable operational budgets or management plans.
Key issues raised by stakeholders include:
- Wasted Public Capital: Billions of public funds tied down in non-functioning buildings instead of serving local communities.
- Lack of Staff and Equipment: Building physical structures without recruiting doctors, nurses, and midwives to run daily operations.
- Subsidy Dividend Deficit: Failing to channel post-subsidy savings into primary and maternal healthcare services.
- Poor Intergovernmental Handover: Failure between federal agencies and state health ministries to formally integrate new centres into the national health network.
Rising Maternal Deaths Amid Neglected Facilities
The controversy over these abandoned hospitals comes at a painful time for Nigeria’s health sector. According to official data from the 2025 Nigeria Health Statistics Report, the country recorded 20,811 maternal, neonatal, and under-five deaths between January and September 2025 alone.
As reported by Vanguard News, health advocates continue to stress that thousands of these tragic losses could be prevented if primary and secondary facilities were open and staffed. With maternal health indicators remaining among the most challenging in the world, having fully built yet abandoned hospitals locked behind gates raises urgent questions about administrative oversight.
Transforming maternal healthcare will require the Federal Ministry of Health and state governments to move quickly beyond ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Equipping, staffing, and opening these abandoned hospitals remains an urgent necessity to save lives, restore public trust, and ensure public investments deliver tangible benefits to everyday citizens.