Katsina Government Conditionally Reopens Five Private Health Colleges, Keeps 17 Shut
By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times
The Katsina State Government has ordered the continued closure of 17 private health training colleges that failed to meet operational standards, while granting conditional approval for the reopening of five others.
The decision was announced on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health and Tertiary Institutions, Hon. Umar Mammada, during a press briefing at the State Secretariat in Katsina.
Mammada said the action followed the approval of a report submitted by an inter-ministerial task force, which was endorsed by the State Executive Council at its meeting held on December 10, 2025.
According to him, the five colleges granted conditional approval met the minimum operational requirements but must obtain full accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) before the end of the first quarter of 2026. He noted that the approval is limited to specific courses and warned that failure to comply with the stipulated conditions would result in withdrawal of the permission.
He added that the 17 colleges which failed to address the deficiencies identified by the task force would remain closed, while two institutions found to be operating illegally had been ordered to shut down immediately.
Mammada further stated that, going forward, only fully approved institutions with clearance from the Ministry of Health would be allowed to post students for practical training, as part of efforts to strengthen supervision and improve standards in health education.
“The Katsina State Government will not compromise on quality and safety in the training of healthcare professionals,” Mammada said.
The move, he explained, is part of the state government’s broader effort to sanitise the operations of private health training institutions and enhance the quality of healthcare manpower across the state.
The colleges granted conditional approval are GIAL College of Health, Cognate College of Health Sciences, Kebram College of Health, Barda College of Health Sciences, and Alliance College of Public and Environmental Health.
