By Ayomide Otitoju
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal for what he described as “transformational leadership,” following the commissioning of several critical infrastructure projects in the state capital, Gusau, on Tuesday.
Obasanjo, who was in Zamfara to inaugurate the remodeled Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital and two major roads, said the governor’s efforts marked a new chapter in the state’s development.
“I am in Zamfara State today to see the new, improved, and improving Zamfara under your leadership,” Obasanjo stated at the hospital commissioning. “I’m particularly impressed that the hospital now has a CT scan and an MRI machine—some teaching hospitals in Nigeria don’t even have that.”
The specialist hospital has undergone significant upgrades, including new Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radiology, and Laboratory complexes, alongside newly built doctors’ quarters and a redesigned patient relaxation area.
According to a statement from Governor Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the hospital now boasts cutting-edge medical equipment across multiple departments, including radiology, dialysis, ophthalmology, physiotherapy, endoscopy, and general clinical care. The entire facility has also been furnished with new beds, waste management infrastructure, and a modern IT system to support patient care.
Obasanjo also commissioned the Zannah Road to Abarma Road and the Tsalha Bungudu to Kwanar Birnin Ruwa Road, both key routes aimed at improving urban mobility in Gusau.
He praised Governor Lawal’s focus on infrastructure and urged him to continue his rescue mission for the full tenure of his administration:
“Based on my observations and what I have heard, we are partners in progress. I urge you to continue enhancing Zamfara State throughout your government’s eight-year tenure.”
In his remarks, Governor Lawal thanked Obasanjo for his support and visit, calling him “a friend of Zamfara State” and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the state through strategic investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development.
The governor emphasized that the upgraded specialist hospital will serve as a referral center for complex cases, a training hub for medical professionals, and a platform for innovation and research in healthcare.
