Management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, has addressed concerns surrounding funds belonging to patients and clients who deposited money into the hospital’s Smart-Clinic wallet platform.
The hospital said the clarification became necessary following growing misconceptions over reports that customers’ funds were trapped and inaccessible after the suspension of the payment system.
According to the hospital management, the Smart-Clinic wallet service was introduced in April 2025 to improve service delivery, simplify payment procedures, reduce overcrowding, and eliminate the long queues usually experienced by patients and their relatives while paying for medical services within the facility.
In a statement signed by the hospital’s Media Director, Dr. Aisha Adamu, and made available to journalists in Jalingo, the management explained that the initiative was part of broader reforms aimed at enhancing operational efficiency at the medical centre.
The statement noted that the Federal Government, in January 2026, directed the suspension of wallet payment services across relevant institutions, prompting the hospital to immediately begin steps toward complying with the directive.
“The Management of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo wishes to clarify issues surrounding recent allegations alleging that funds belonging to subscribers on the hospital’s wallet payment platform have been trapped and are no longer accessible,” the statement read.
“The wallet payment service was introduced by the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo in April 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency, ease payment processes, reduce congestion, and eliminate the challenges associated with long queues experienced by patients and their relatives while making payments for medical services within the hospital.
“However, in January 2026, the Federal Government issued a directive suspending wallet services across relevant institutions. In compliance with this directive, the hospital immediately commenced processes towards the suspension of the service.
“It has, however, come to the notice of Management that some customers who may not have been adequately aware of the suspension continued to fund their wallet accounts after the directive had taken effect.”
The hospital management reassured affected customers that efforts were ongoing to address the situation and ensure that all legitimate concerns relating to deposits made after the suspension are properly resolved.
