An All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker in Nasarawa State has demanded explanations from the management of Umaisha General Hospital over the whereabouts of medical equipment and other items he claimed to have personally purchased and donated to the facility.
The lawmaker raised the concerns during a visit to the hospital, where he confronted officials over what he described as the failure to account for more than 50 ceiling fans, about 40 standing fans and 50 orthopaedic mattresses reportedly donated to improve conditions for patients and healthcare workers.
In a video of the encounter circulating on social media, the visibly angry lawmaker repeatedly demanded that hospital officials show him the items he said he bought with his personal funds.
“Where are they? Why are you lying to me? I bought over 50 ceiling fans, over 40 standing fans, 50 orthopaedic mattresses,” he said.
The lawmaker specifically questioned a doctor at the facility about the orthopaedic mattresses, recalling an earlier discussion in which he was allegedly informed that the mattresses were still being kept in the hospital’s store.
“Doctor, you remember the last time I spoke with you about the orthopaedic mattresses, you remember what you told me. Why are you lying to me?” he asked.
He subsequently demanded to see the mattresses.
“How can you tell me this is the mattress I bought? Can you show the mattresses I bought? I bought them for my people,” the lawmaker said.
He also demanded explanations concerning the ceiling and standing fans.
“Where are the ceiling fans? I bought more than 50 ceiling fans. Standing fans, I bought about 40. Where are they?” he asked.
The lawmaker said he was particularly disturbed by the condition of patients at the hospital despite the items he claimed to have provided.
“Look at the condition of my people. You are telling me you have taken the mattresses around the wards. I said okay, take me to the wards. Where are they? Let me see them,” he said.
According to him, he had previously instructed the hospital management to return the mattresses to a particular location after being told they were still in storage.
“I have had a discussion with the doctor, and [he] told me that the mattresses are still in the store and I told him, please take it back to that place. Remember I told you this,” he said.
The lawmaker maintained that the items were purchased with his personal money for the benefit of residents who depend on the hospital for healthcare.
“It is my money I used to buy it for my people. Why would they be suffering? Look at the condition of the people here,” he said.
However, a hospital staff member attempted to explain the whereabouts of some of the mattresses.
According to the staff member, some mattresses had been temporarily given to patients to take home after treatment and discharge, with an expectation that they would be returned after two months.
“We normally give them the mattress to go home and return in two months,” the staff member was heard saying.
When asked how many mattresses had reportedly been taken home by patients, the staff member said about seven.
“I even asked them to return the mattress today,” the staff member added.
The explanation did not appear to resolve the lawmaker’s concerns, as he continued to demand an account of the other items he said he had donated.
He further said hospital workers who genuinely needed mattresses could approach him, insisting that he had the capacity to provide additional ones.
“If you the staff want it, I have capacity to buy for them. And because you are helping us in this community, I have the capacity to buy for them,” he said.
The lawmaker also expressed frustration over what he described as the failure to properly account for his contributions to the hospital.
“Are you being fair to me? I will go and suffer. Go and look at my house in Abuja and the one in this community. I refuse to enjoy. I refuse to be happy with myself, just to make my people happy,” he said.
He nevertheless returned to his central demand for an explanation concerning the fans and other equipment.
“Where are the ceiling fans that I bought for you? Where are the standing fans? So you just provide it to your own people. Where are they?” he asked.
The incident has sparked discussions online over the management of donated public-health equipment and the need for transparency in the handling of items provided to healthcare facilities.
However, the lawmaker’s claims regarding the missing equipment have not been independently established.
As of the time of filing this report, the management of Umaisha General Hospital and relevant Nasarawa State health authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations.
Further clarification from the hospital management is expected to establish the whereabouts and current status of the donated items.
