DASH Akwanga: Redefining Healthcare In Nasarawa

By Titus Mangut

No doubt, the people of Nasarawa State generally and the North Senatorial Zone in particular will not forget January 14, 2026. On that day, Governor Abdullahi Sule signed into law a bill establishing the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Akwanga. The law provides for the upgrading of the existing Akwanga Model Hospital into a tertiary health institution to deliver advanced healthcare to Nasarawa North and beyond. This development effectively replaces the previous DASH in Lafia, which was upgraded by the federal government to the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital.

Following the bill’s signing, the governor appointed a Consultant Nephrologist, Dr Esala E. Abene, as the pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD). Upon assuming duty at the facility along Lafia Road, Akwanga, Dr Abene initiated the process of taking over the model hospital and designed a core mandate for the specialist hospital centred on service delivery, training, and research.

As the specialist hospital commenced clinical services at the Lafia Road facility, the government deemed it wise to construct, expand, and equip the hospital with state-of-the-art equipment. Consequently, it awarded a ₦6 billion contract for the project.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, said the decision to relocate and upgrade the facility to Akwanga was a deliberate move to spread tertiary healthcare infrastructure across the state’s three senatorial zones for fairness and efficiency.

Now, 100 days since Dr Abene’s appointment, one might argue that a full assessment of a leader’s performance is premature. However, a closer look at his first hundred days reveals a series of impactful, tangible achievements.

When the government, through the Ministry of Health, directed the hospital to relocate to pave the way for the contractor to begin work, Dr Abene made concerted efforts to ensure the process was completed without delay. The temporary site was dilapidated, a ghost of its former self. With limited resources, the hospital embarked on massive renovations. The effort bore fruit when a medical outreach was held at the site; the governor, who was present, was visibly impressed by the transformation.

Beyond infrastructure, Dr Abene tackled the critical shortage of medical personnel. When he took over the model hospital, it had only two doctors, one of whom was nearing retirement and a handful of nurses. He immediately sought approval to recruit additional medical staff. The governor wasted no time in approving the request for the recruitment of 25 doctors and 40 nurses, so far 18 consultants from different fields have been engaged and are now actively rendering clinical services in the hospital

Under Dr Abene’s watch, DASH, with the support of Governor Abdullahi Sule, has also acquired critical medical equipment, particularly for the theatre and laboratory units. Prior to the CMD’s takeover, the SERVICOM unit was moribund, with just one ineffective staff member. With the arrival of Dr Abene, he recognised the unit’s potential and strengthened it to ensure that patients and the public receive high-quality, timely, and respectful healthcare services.

Although the hospital had been operating at its temporary site with just 33 beds due to space constraints, the renovation of additional wards has increased the bed capacity to 61. This expansion will ease congestion and significantly enhance service delivery.

In just 100 days, Dr Esala Abene has laid a foundation of decisive leadership at DASH Akwanga. From renovating a near-derelict temporary site and tripling the medical workforce to acquiring vital equipment and expanding bed capacity, his tenure has already begun reshaping healthcare in Nasarawa North. While a full legacy is built over years, these early strides, made possible by the support of Governor Sule, signal a new era of specialist care, one driven not by excuses but by action. For the people of the state, the future of healthcare has never been brighter.

—Mangut is the PRO of DASH Akwanga