Abuja, Nigeria – The House of Representatives has sounded the alarm over a looming healthcare crisis in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging swift and coordinated action to avert a potential breakdown in medical services.

 

During Wednesday’s plenary session, the House adopted a motion sponsored by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, calling on the Federal Ministry of Health and the FCT Administration to immediately evaluate the current state of healthcare facilities in the nation’s capital. The goal, the lawmakers said, is to identify critical areas in need of urgent expansion, upgrade, and resource allocation.

 

In his motion, Ezechi lamented the growing strain on the FCT’s health infrastructure, citing overcrowded hospitals, a severe shortage of bed spaces, and a dire lack of medical personnel as key challenges. According to him, many government-owned hospitals were built decades ago and have seen little to no expansion, despite the region’s rapid population growth over the past 20 years.

 

“Patients requiring urgent medical attention are often left unattended or subjected to excruciatingly long waiting hours due to inadequate infrastructure and capacity,” Ezechi stated, adding that this has led to the preventable loss of lives on a daily basis.

 

He further highlighted that the chronic shortage of healthcare workers—doctors, nurses, and other essential staff—has severely impacted the quality of care, placing an unsustainable burden on the few available personnel.

 

Expressing grave concern, Ezechi warned that without immediate intervention, the situation could deteriorate to catastrophic levels, endangering the health and well-being of FCT residents and undermining their constitutional right to quality healthcare.

 

Following deliberations, the House resolved to:

 

1. Urge the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the FCT Administration, to conduct an immediate assessment of healthcare facilities in the territory, with a focus on identifying areas needing urgent upgrades and investment.

 

 

2. Constitute an ad-hoc committee to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the current state of healthcare infrastructure in the FCT and submit a detailed report within four weeks, complete with actionable recommendations.

 

 

3. Call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the FCT healthcare system, and to release emergency funds for the upgrade of facilities, recruitment of medical personnel, and procurement of essential medical equipment.

 

 

 

The House’s resolution reflects growing concern over the state of public healthcare in the capital and underscores the urgent need for systemic reform and sustainable investment.