By Ahmed Kaigama
Bauchi, June 27, 2025
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has commissioned a state-of-the-art laboratory complex to strengthen the fight against Lassa fever and other infectious diseases.
The laboratory, fully funded by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company, represents a significant public-private partnership aimed at boosting healthcare infrastructure.
The facility is expected to enhance early diagnosis, improve treatment outcomes, and support medical research in the region.
Prof. Yusuf Jibrin, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of ATBUTH, said this on Thursday during the commissioning ceremony in Bauchi.
He said the new facility was a strategic intervention for the northern region, which is battling a surge in both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“Bauchi is one of the states with the highest burden of Lassa fever, cholera, and diphtheria,” Prof. Jibrin stated, adding that timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing such outbreaks.
The NLNG-funded laboratory, he explained, was built following a detailed needs assessment and is equipped for high-throughput sample processing, advanced diagnostics, and research.
Describing the lab as a “fortress of response,” Jibrin said it would significantly boost ATBUTH’s capabilities in clinical care, research, and medical training.
He added that the facility would also support international collaborations, including with the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit, The Gambia.
“It will enable early detection of Lassa fever, reduce diagnostic delays, and improve patient outcomes in Bauchi and the surrounding states,” he said.
Dr Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director of NLNG, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to healthcare improvement across Nigeria, noting that similar health interventions under the Hospital Support Programme (HSP) had been carried out in Asaba, Bayelsa, and Abuja.
“Though we operate in the South-South, our vision is national.
“This project shows what public-private partnerships can achieve,” he said.
He added that NLNG’s broader investments, such as providing 100 per cent of Nigeria’s domestic LPG supply and advancing its Train 7 project on Bonny Island, underscored the company’s dedication to sustainable national development.
“From neonatal care in Asaba to renal support in Bayelsa, the HSP is revolutionising healthcare delivery,” Mshelbila said.
