The decision, announced late Thursday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Yahaya Sarki, comes on the heels of viral social media videos exposing the dire state of healthcare facilities across the state, including flooded wards and patients enduring treatment on bare metal beds without mattresses.

The suspension has been linked to widespread criticism from social media influencers and journalists, who have amplified concerns about the crumbling health sector in Kebbi, one of Nigeria’s poorest northwestern states. 

A particularly damning video, shared by investigative journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, depicted harrowing conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital, where floodwaters submerged sections of the facility, forcing patients to seek care in subhuman environments. 

“This is not healthcare; it’s a death trap,” Kangiwa captioned the footage, which quickly amassed thousands of views and sparked calls for accountability.  

Similar exposés revealed shortages of essential drugs, outdated equipment, and chronic understaffing, fueling accusations that the commissioner had failed to implement reforms despite repeated directives from the governor.

Governor Idris, known for his zero-tolerance stance on corruption and inefficiency, directed Musa-Ismail to submit a detailed justification within 48 hours explaining why further disciplinary actions, including potential dismissal, should not be imposed. 

“The administration will not tolerate any form of negligence or disregard for the sacred mandate of public service,” Sarki stated in the official release, emphasizing the governor’s commitment to discipline and public trust.  

This marks the latest in a series of high-profile suspensions under Idris’s watch, aimed at restoring efficiency in key sectors.

The health ministry in Kebbi has long grappled with systemic challenges, including inadequate funding—Kebbi’s 2025 budget allocated just 8% to health, below the national average—and the lingering impacts of insecurity from banditry, which disrupts supply chains and deters medical personnel.