Katsina Private Health School Owners Decry Prolonged Closure, Warn of Student Drift Into Social Vices
The Association of Proprietors of Private Health Institutions in Katsina State has expressed deep concern over the continued closure of their tertiary health training institutions, warning that the prolonged shutdown is causing social and economic setbacks in the state.
The Chairman of the Association, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim Kebram, raised the alarm in a statement issued to newsmen in Katsina. He noted that although the association initially supported government efforts to improve standards and governance in the health education sector, delays in the work of the Task Force set up to implement the reforms have led to unintended negative consequences.
According to the statement, over 10,000 students have been left stranded since the closure, with many now roaming the streets. Some, it said, have become vulnerable to recruitment as political thugs and night riders, while others have migrated to neighboring states in search of alternative means of survival.
The Association recalled that the Task Force met with institutional proprietors on August 5, 2025, at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, where schools presented evidence of compliance with government recommendations. The Task Force later carried out follow-up assessments between August 25 and September 2, 2025. However, despite the inspections, the schools remain closed twelve weeks later with no clear explanation.
The statement added that the continued shutdown has disrupted academic calendars, halted training of key health manpower, and inflicted significant financial losses on proprietors who have invested heavily in infrastructure, staffing, and accreditation.
The Association insists that the affected institutions hold the required accreditations and regulatory approvals mandated by the state government. It therefore questioned the fairness and transparency of the process, given the lack of communication and prolonged implementation.
It called on the state government and relevant authorities to provide clarity on the reasons for the delay and a definite timeline for reopening the institutions. The proprietors further appealed that future policy decisions should consider the substantial investments made in the sector as well as the critical need to preserve the integrity of health education.
The Association reaffirmed its readiness to work with government agencies, regulatory institutions, and stakeholders to resolve the matter in the best interest of students and the state’s healthcare system.