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UMTH: Orchard, for the Benefits of Patients’ Healing
UMTH: Orchard, for the Benefits of Patients’ Healing
By: Balami Lazarus
Hospitals are considered universally to be the most serene environment where patients are expected to have the best healthcare services and attention and also to be provided with quality medical treatment and care through their doctors and caregivers, aided by other health workers, to enable the sick ones to recuperate, feel better, and get well. How can our hospitals achieve this?
However, this can be achieved not only by discharging their primary objectives through the provision of medical treatments but also in some other related friendly environmental health windows.
When the NEWSng team took a post-flood visit to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) recently to assess some projects like the one and only Interventional Radiology Centre (IRC) in Nigeria and the Stroke Centre (SC), among other few ongoing projects that are not peculiar to most hospitals in Nigeria.
Farms are of different types, but the one in question herein is an orchard, a special kind of farm. Orchards have never been part of the hospital environment, while gardens and parks are a common sight in our hospitals. Therefore, UMTH, under the able good leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, decided to make yet another landmark by establishing a large orchard within the hospital premises in Maiduguri.
Why an orchard in UMTH? Speaking to the CMD, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo on the Orchard project, he happily said, “The Orchard is meant to provide a conducive environmental atmosphere/space for patients, their relatives, visitors, staff, and students to have contact with and the feel of the natural environment provided by the Orchard.” He further emphasized by saying that “patients will have a natural environment for them to relax, which will help in their healing processes.” He informed NEWSng that it is also meant to provide sources of fresh fruits for the patients and members of the hospital community at affordable prices. “The Orchard is not only established to provide leisure/relaxation, but its products—fruits—are going to be sold to assist in maintaining the facilities of the orchard.”
In the course of our reports, NEWSng spoke to Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Dawule, officer in charge of the orchard, who took us round. The Orchard is 1.75 hectares of land totaling 26 plots that are 25 meters in size. Abubakar Dawule said that each plot is planted with a single variety of economic tree that bears quality fruits. All the plots are planted with single different varieties of economic trees like cashew, custard apple tree , mango , orange, banana, guava, mango apple, pawpaw, date trees, tangerine, berries of different kinds, watermelon, and other varieties of economic trees/plants.”
Sadiq further informed NEWSng that the aims of the orchard are “to create a green area of plantation that will provide economic trees for the production of fruits.” He also said that is to help reduce global warming and provide protection for the hospital’s environmental beauty. “To have natural environment space for nutritional benefits of patients to improve their healing.
UMTH Orchard has standard functional facilities like a water fountain, a set of concrete backrest seats in each plot, and an office block consisting of shops, stores, and restrooms. The orchard is beautifully designed with paved walkways to each plot and free flow of water to all the plots. It is fenced with one main entrance. These efforts are carried out by an 18-man workforce, including security operatives, to secure the orchard.
Interestingly, the UMTH Orchard was sponsored by a well-meaning Nigerian Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu Bungudu (Zanna Bungudu), a member of the National Assembly—House of Representatives representing the Bungudu/Maru Federal constituency of Zamfara State, with the sum of 20 million Naira.
Challenges faced by the Orchard, according to Abubakar Sadiq Dawule, are the need for additional borehole walkways and lights and more fertilizer/manure.
Garden scissors, an axe, a cutlass, and watering cans, among other handy tools, “are necessary for the maintenance of the orchard.”
UMTH: Orchard, for the Benefits of Patients’ Healing
Suspected cultists kill 12 in attack on Jos community, Plateau govt imposes curfew
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected cultists on Sunday night attacked Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, leaving 12 persons dead, in a fresh outbreak of violence that has prompted authorities to impose a 48-hour curfew in the area.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 8:00 p.m. when residents of the community came under sporadic gunfire from unidentified armed men, suspected to be cultists, who stormed the area and shot indiscriminately.
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), were immediately mobilised to the scene following a distress call and moved to restore order and prevent further escalation.
A security report indicated that 12 persons were confirmed dead, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured victims were said to have been evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
The troops subsequently cordoned off major access routes to the community and ordered residents to remain indoors while a coordinated search operation was launched to track down the attackers.
Military sources added that clearance operations were ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators and prevent further breakdown of law and order in the area.
In response to the attack, the Plateau State Government, in collaboration with security agencies, announced the imposition of a 48-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area with immediate effect.
The curfew, which took effect from midnight of March 29 to April 1, 2026, was aimed at restoring calm and enabling security agencies to carry out intensified operations.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Rt. Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the government condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric and unprovoked.”
The statement assured residents that security agencies had been directed to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, while urging the public to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Security patrols were still ongoing across affected communities as authorities moved to forestall possible reprisal attacks and restore normalcy.
Suspected cultists kill 12 in attack on Jos community, Plateau govt imposes curfew
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Damboa LGA of Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected kidnapper in Azir community, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Malama that the suspect was apprehended at about 5:00 p.m. on March 28 by troops of 25 Brigade and 19 Battalion (Mechanised) deployed at a Forward Operating Base in Azir.
The source disclosed that the suspect was alleged to have been involved in kidnapping activities within the Damboa and Azir general areas.
“During preliminary investigation, the suspect claimed to be a cattle courier operating within Damboa and its environs,” the source said.
He added that one bicycle was recovered from the suspect at the point of arrest.
The suspect and the recovered item are currently in troops’ custody for further investigation and necessary action.
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Damboa LGA of Borno
Troops arrest 58 illegal miners in Edo state
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation MESA have arrested 58 suspected illegal miners at an illegal gold mining site in Ososo general area, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
A security source disclosed that the suspects were apprehended at about 1:00 p.m. on March 28 during a fighting patrol conducted by troops of 195 Battalion (Rear).
According to the source, the troops stormed the mining site and arrested the suspects without resistance.
“The suspects are currently in troops’ custody for further action,” the source said.
He noted that the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining activities and other criminal enterprises within Edo State and its environs.
Troops arrest 58 illegal miners in Edo state
Suspected cultists kill 12 in attack on Jos community, Plateau govt imposes curfew
Troops arrest suspected kidnapper in Damboa LGA of Borno
Troops arrest 58 illegal miners in Edo state
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