Gov Sule Earmarks N6 billion as Take-off Fund for DASH, Akwanga

After assenting to the bill establishing Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Akwanga, Nasarawa State government has set aside N6 billion as take-off fund.
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‎The bill for the emergence of the hospital was assented to by Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House, Lafia on Wednesday.
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‎The state House of Assembly had on October 20, 2025, passed the bill for the establishment of the hospital.
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‎Newsbuka reports that the hospital which was initially domiciled in Lafia, was donated to the federal government following the establishment of the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital as the take-off facility. The new specialist hospital will replace the Akwanga General Hospital.
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‎Governor Sule during the ceremony, revealed that the fund allocated for the hospital take off was part of the resources received from the World Bank, which identified Nasarawa State for its ease of doing business.
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‎According to him, the fund is for facility upgrade in order to transform the host institution to the status of a tertiary one befitting a specialist hospital.
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‎He added that the decision to establish the DASH Akwanga was to ensure that every senatorial zone of the state has a tertiary health facility that would respond to critical health needs of the people.
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‎Governor Sule during the ceremony announced the appointment of Dr. Abene Esla Ezekiel as pioneer Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the new facility.