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Special Report: Inside Story of Nigeria’s Deteriorating Health System

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5 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

In June 3, 2025, a female patient admitted to the National Hospital, Abuja, battled with her life before giving up the ghost. It was not because she was brought into the hospital late, rather, it was due to shortage of staff at the said hospital.

In the presence of the deceased children, other patients in the same ward, and their visitors, the deceased struggled nearly 3 hours while doctors and medical staff that were supposed to be on duty that very night were no where to be found.

The children and the husband of the deceased, in their helpless state, made arrangements and took the remains of her from the hospital.

The other patients in the ward were visibly angry for such incident to have happened while there could possibly be a way to keep the woman alive if the staff on duty were available.

This incident took place from 11pm on the 2 of June to some minutes after 2am in the morning of the 3 of June, 2025, at the female ward of the National Hospital, Abuja.

While the incident was ongoing, our correspondent was present at the ward because his mother was also admitted to the hospital.

Out of curiosity, and in a quest to get answers to some disturbing questions relating to the ugly incident, the journalist headed to the office of the Medical Director of the hospital. Although, he was told by the Director’s personal assistant that he was not on seat, that he should come back after Eid-ul- Adha celebration.

However, the journalist was fortunate enough to have answers to some of the questions from one of the senior medical staff of the hospital.

What Were The Questions, And What Were The Answers?

From the journalist’s observation that very night at the female ward of the hospital, there were shortages of medical equipment, and the ones available were of no standard and quality.

So, he asked the medical staff why there was such situation in a hospital as National Hospital, the response was that the hospital Management has, severally, written to the health ministry for a well thought out revamping measures for the hospital. But each time such letter is being written, the Management either get “we are on it” response or silence from the ministry.

Also, among the questions was the reason for staff being unavailable on duty. The response was that the nation at large, not only the hospital, is experiencing brain drain in the health sector, and that is affecting the effective operations of the hospital every now and then.

He further explained that it might be that those on duty that very night might be attending to some other patients in other wards at the same time that period. A situation, he said, wouldn’t be possible for two or three staff to handle.

The journalist, after the session with the man, arrived at a conclusion that the government is not doing enough in the health sector of the country.

In another news, on the 7th of January, 2026, news broke that the son of one of the Nigeria’s finest writers, Chimamanda Adichie, dir4fed in a hospital in Lagos due to negligence of the medical staff attending to the child.

In a statement, Adichie said her son was taken to Euracare Hospital for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line, during which he was sedated but was not properly monitored after being administered propofol, leading to complications including loss of responsiveness, seizures, and cardiac arrest.

“We brought in a child who was unwell but stable and scheduled to travel the next day. We came to conduct basic procedures. And suddenly, our beautiful little boy was gone forever. It is like living your worst nightmare. I will never survive the loss of my child,” she wrote.

“We were in Lagos for Christmas. Nkanu had what we first thought was just a cold, but soon turned into a very serious infection and he was admitted to Atlantis hospital.”

“He was to travel to the US the next day, January 7th, accompanied by Travelling Doctors. A team at Johns Hopkins was waiting to receive him in Baltimore. The Hopkins team had asked for a lumbar puncture test and an MRI. The Nigerian team had also decided to put in a ‘central line’ (used to administer iv medications) in preparation for Nkanu’s flight. Atlantis hospital referred us to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best place to have the procedures done.

“The morning of the 6th, we left Atlantis hospital for Euracare, Nkanu carried in his father’s arms. We were told he would need to be sedated to prevent him from moving during the MRI and the ‘central line’ procedure.

“I was waiting just outside the theater. I saw people, including Dr M, rushing into the theater and immediately knew something had happened.

“A short time later, Dr M came out and told me Nkanu had been given too much propofol by the anesthesiologist, had become unresponsive and was quickly resuscitated. But suddenly Nkanu was on a ventilator, he was intubated and placed in the ICU. The next thing I heard was that he had seizures. Cardiac arrest. All these had never happened before. Some hours later, Nkanu was gone.

“It turns out that Nkanu was NEVER monitored after being given too much propofol. The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theater, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive.

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“How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to monitor him? Later, after the ‘central line’ procedure, the anesthesiologist casually switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU!

“The anesthesiologist was CRIMINALLY negligent. He was fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child. No proper protocol was followed,” parts of her statements read.

Adichie further disclosed that they have gathered that the same anesthesiologist has been carrying out same style of medication on different children that had been brought there for care.

“We have now heard about two previous cases of this same anesthesiologist overdosing children. Why did Euracare allow him to keep working? This must never happen to another child.”

Commenting on this incident, a Yola-based anesthesiologist, Dr. Raji Bello, expressed sympathy on the passing of Adichie’s son, and avoided commenting on the said negligence of the involved doctor. But he emphasized that the medical procedures involved are generally safe when performed by trained professionals, cautioning against public misunderstanding of isolated tragedies.

“This is not true. Medications that are used in hospitals have already undergone rigorous approval processes and they are being used because they have been found to be safe in trained and experienced hands. Yes, some medications have been withdrawn after approval because of new information regarding safety but these instances are rare considering the total number of medications in use and it usually happens to medications that are relatively new,” Dr. Raji asserted.

“Propofol, MRI sedation and central line placement are all safe in trained and experienced hands. They have been linked to the death of this child not because they are inherently unsafe but because of specific associated circumstances which may not be applicable in other situations,” he added.

An introspection into the argument of Dr. Raji will reveal to one that the whole issue boils down to the country having trained, experienced, and competent hands to handle the health sector. And it further reveals again that the brain drain menace in which the country is facing is what resulted into quack and inexperienced medical personnels being left for the country to deal with.

Furthermore, lately there have been reports that patients across the Federal Capital Territory are expressing concerns over skeletal services in general hospitals, citing closed pharmacies, absent laboratory staff, and minimal attendance by medical personnel across various healthcare facilities in Abuja.

At Kubwa General Hospital, one Rotimi Raheem said on Thursday, January 8, 2026, that all hospital pharmacies were locked and that laboratory technicians were not on duty, leaving patients unable to access essential medical services.

Similarly, at Wuse General Hospital, according to News Agency of Nigeria, Ibeto Onakwe reported that medical workers at emergency units were largely absent, adding that only a few doctors were seen moving around without attending to patients’ urgent medical needs.

At Nyanya General Hospital, Idris Yahuri, said administrative officers responsible for issuing patient files were missing from their posts, making it impossible for patients to access old medical records when necessary for treatment.

Responding to the development, Adewale-Adeleye Premiere, president of the Association of Resident Doctors at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, said the shortages were primarily due to insufficient staffing across most hospitals in Abuja.

He warned that the exodus of health workers from the country was alarming, urging the government to act swiftly to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed and medical services from collapsing.

“In my own centre, UATH, resident doctors used to number between 500 and 600, but currently there are only about 220 doctors, significantly reducing the hospital’s capacity to provide healthcare for patients across the Middle Belt,” he stated.

Mr Premiere added that many doctors left for countries such as the UK, Dubai, or Saudi Arabia, increasing workload pressure on those remaining and reducing the quality of healthcare delivery across federal medical institutions.

He warned that for every doctor who left, the burden on remaining staff increased exponentially, and though doctors were not currently on strike, they might consider industrial action to press for improved working conditions and support.

Talking about strike in the health sector of the country, this newspaper has observed that the other members in the health ministry aside resident doctors, JOHESU, is currently on strike. Part of their grievances is that the government is not paying attention to their welfarism. And that includes good pay or renumeration which in turn can discourage them from leaving the country just like those who have left.

JOHESU members—including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and allied health professionals—are essential to hospital operations. Their absence critically weakens service delivery, even where emergency units remain open.

What Could Be The Solution To The Problems in Nigeria’s Health Sector?

Speaking with a health practitioner, Dr. Demola Ahmed, he suggested that the government should declare a state of emergency in the health sector, citing continuous cases of loss of lives due to either incompetence or shortages of staff.

He said when that is done the government should “establish a permanent, independent commission for health sector remuneration to prevent recurrent strikes and ensure sustainable revamping of infrastructural needs of hospitals in order to deliver quality services.”

Dr. Ahmed also mentioned that the commission to be established should also be responsible for sanctioning medical personnels in private hospitals that indulge negligence or that have been found guilty of such behavior.
“Just like Hisbah in Kano that has been established solely for monitoring and enforcing morality in the state, Nigeria’s health sector can come up with something like that to monitor hospitals and their activities so that orderliness can be revived and sustained,” he said.

The Cardiologist concluded by saying that sustained investment in both health workers and infrastructure in the hospitals across the country will be the only solution to ending brain drain, inefficient and inexperienced medical personnels, and taming of negligence.

 

 

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Alleged Fake Presidential DG Insists Gbaja Was Aware of His Appointment

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10 hours ago

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July 2, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly paraded himself as the Director-General of the non-existent Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Thursday, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, was aware of his appointment. ExecutiveBranch

Adeyemi, who is facing allegations of impersonation and related offences, said the matter was already before a court and expressed confidence that he would be vindicated.

He spoke on Politics Today, a Channels TV programme, through a telephone interview. Asked whether he was running away from the law, he said: “Not at all.” Politics

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Asked whether he was ready to face the law, he said: “Definitely, if I am wrong, let the court of law do that; if I am right, let the court of law do the right thing. Do you know what? Since the matter is in the court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me because I am ready to clear my name. Let the court take its course. Since my lawyers are involved, everybody will follow us, they will monitor the whole thing. Let the court of competent jurisdiction do the needful. I have a letter of appointment. However, since the matter is in the court, I won’t be able to say much about it, I am on medication. I am a bit down, I am sick.”

Asked whether he is a criminal, he said: “No, I am not a criminal. However, the court will do justice to that.”

On whether Gbajabiamila has knowledge about his appointment, he said: “Yes.”

On whether he got the confirmation of appointment through Gbajabiamila’s office, he said: “Yes, let the court vindicate all those things.”

On his message to Nigerians regarding the issue, he said: “I want Nigerians to know that, for one second, let us assume the agency does not exist, would I have the temerity, the audacity, to be going all over the country, meeting the head of ministry, department and agency, if I know that the agency does not exist, or as they allege me that I cooked up everything? No Nigerian can dare do that. I could not have summoned the courage to be going from one place to another for almost three years. Nigeria is not a banana republic.”

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Why Are We Still Paying War Prices? Nigerians Demand Fuel Price Cut as Global Oil Fall

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18 hours ago

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July 2, 2026

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Fuel Pump

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The war drums have fallen silent in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz is once again open for business, and global crude oil prices have crashed back to earth, settling at $71 per barrel even lower than the pre-war price of $75.

But on the bustling streets of Nigeria, a different kind of tension is simmering. For millions of Nigerians, especially commercial drivers and commuters, the economic ceasefire has yet to arrive. While the global price of crude the primary component of petrol has dropped by over 90% from its wartime peak, the price at Nigerian pumps remains stubbornly high.

Petrol, which sold for an average of ₦750 before the war, shot up to as much as ₦1,500 during the crisis. Now, with the crisis over, it has only marginally dropped to hover between ₦1,250 and ₦1,350 per litre, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of citizens who feel they are being punished for a conflict they had no part in.

Our reporter went to the streets of Mararaba and Abuja to speak with the men and women on the frontlines of this daily struggle the Okada riders and the motorists to ask the question on everyone’s lips: “How much have you bought fuel recently, and what price do you really want the government to reduce it to?”

At a busy bus stop in Mararaba-Karu axis, we met three Okada riders who spoke with a palpable sense of exhaustion.

Nura wiped the sweat from his brow as he recounted his daily expenses.

“Just this morning, I bought fuel for ₦1,300 per litre at a NNPC station. At the filling station by the junction, they are selling for ₦1,450,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Do you know how many trips I have to make to pay for that? Before this madness, I was buying at ₦780. With ₦5,000, I could move my family and still have change. Now? ₦5,000 doesn’t even fill the tank of my motorcycle.”

When asked what price he wants the government to reduce it to, Emeka didn’t hesitate.

“We are not robots. We have families. The government should reduce it to ₦700 per litre. That is where it was. Why should we suffer for America and Israel’s fight? We didn’t ask them to fight. The war is over, so let the price come back to normal. We want ₦700 so we can eat again.”

Suleiman, an Okada rider operating in the Nyanya area of Abuja, echoed the sentiment, his voice laced with frustration as he parked his bike under a tree to escape the heat.

“I bought fuel yesterday for ₦1,400. The marketers say it’s because of ‘exchange rates’ and ‘transportation.’ But did the exchange rate crash during the war? No! When the war started and the price shot up, they said it was because of ‘global factors.’ Now the global factors are gone, but the price is still here. It doesn’t make sense to a simple man like me.”

Suleiman’s demand is precise and measured.

“I want the government to listen to us. I want them to reduce the price to ₦800 per litreI am not asking for the exact price from before, because I know things are hard. But ₦1,400 is a killer. I want ₦800. That is the only way I can survive. If they don’t, I will have to leave this job. It no longer pays.”

Isah Audu, a young rider who navigates through the traffic in the streets of Mararaba said he recently paid a staggering ₦1,500 at one NNPC filling station just to get a few litres to keep him going for the day.

“I wanted to cry, honestly. ₦1,500 and the tank wasn’t full. I had to borrow money from my friend to make up the rest. My passengers are complaining that I am increasing the fare, but what do they want me to do? Fly the bike?”

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For Isah, the price of fuel is a matter of survival.

“We are seeing the news. We see that oil is now $71 per barrel. It is lower than before the war! So why is our price still high? It is an insult to our intelligence. The government should reduce the pump price to ₦650 or ₦700. That is the true reflection of the market. If they don’t, they are telling us that our lives do not matter.”

While the Okada riders speak of survival, the motorists speak of managing a household on a burning budget. We spoke to two women whose cars have become a burden.

Isa bella said she has had to drastically cut down on her driving.

“I now buy fuel in ‘units.’ I went to the station yesterday and bought ₦10,000 worth of petrol. The meter read that it was at ₦1,250 per litre. I looked at the pump and almost drove away. But where would I go? I had to buy it because I needed to take my children to school and get to work. Before the war, that ₦10,000 would have almost filled my tank. Now, it’s just a pittance.”

Isa bella who represents the many middle-class women struggling to keep their homes running, made a passionate plea.

“I am begging this government to please look at the formula they are using. If crude oil is $71, what is the justification for ₦1,250? I want the government to reduce petrol to ₦750 per litre. That is a fair price. It allows us to budget. It allows us to survive. We can’t keep adjusting our lives while the government adjusts the price only upwards. When it goes down globally, it must come down here. It is only fair.”

On the other hand was Amara who said the high cost of fuel is draining her salary.

“I try to manage, but it is so hard. I filled my tank last week, and it cost me ₦48,000 at a rate of ₦1,300 per litre. I was horrified. I had to use my food money. I am a single lady trying to make it in Abuja, and this fuel price is setting me back. I spend more on fuel than on my rent at this point.”

For Amara, the price reduction isn’t just a request; it’s a necessity to support a generation that feels economically choked.

“I don’t understand the economics, but I know the principle is wrong. The price was low, it went high because of war, and the war is over. Simple mathematics. I want the government to reduce the pump price to ₦700 per litre. That is what I can afford. That is what will allow me to save money and have a life. ₦1,300 is a punishment, and we did nothing wrong.”

The voices of Nura, Suleiman, Isah, Isabella, and Amara represent the mood of a nation grappling with an economic contradiction.

While the government and oil marketers cite issues like the depreciating Naira and the cost of shipping as factors keeping prices high, the average Nigerian is unwilling to accept that logic.

Why Is The Situation Always Like This?

Speaking with an economist on why such situations continue to prevail in the commodity market, especially here in Nigeria, Mr. Olalekan explained that “crude prices retrace quickly, damaged or underutilized refining capacity, shipping disruption, higher insurance costs, and inventory replacement can continue affecting diesel, freight, petrochemicals, packaging, manufacturing costs, and ultimately consumer prices over the following months.”

He added that, “markets tend to price expectations immediately, but supply chains deliver reality later. Mr. Olalekan concluded by drawing a simple illustration where he argued that the fluctuating price saga of crude oil is due to uncertainty with which manufacturers see things from the ordinary person. “What if tomorrow the war starts again, what are these manufacturers going to do with the products that they had the price reduced because of a temporary announcement of affairs?”, he questioned. “Tomorrow, Trump or the Iranian Leaders may start another war, on the basis that one doesn’t abide by the laid down agreements.” So for the price to come down, it will take time. That’s the simple answer”, he said.

As the day ends, the lines at the few filling stations selling at slightly lower prices only grow longer. Okada riders like Emeka will make a few more trips, hoping to earn enough for tomorrow’s fuel. Motorists like Funke will do the mental arithmetic, trying to figure out how to stretch the petrol in her tank until her next paycheck.

But one question lingers in the hot, humid air: If the war is over, why is the hardship in Nigeria just beginning? For millions, the answer is simple: the global ceasefire came months ago, but the “government ceasefire” on high fuel prices is yet to be declared.

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BREAKING: Federal High Court Affirms Mark-led Leadership of ADC, Awards Fine Against Abejide

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19 hours ago

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July 2, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed Sen. David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Justice Musa Liman, in a judgment, also dismissed the suit filed by Rep Leke Abejide challenging Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party for lacking in merit.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Messrs Mark and Aregbesola which challenged Mr Abejide’s suit.

The judge held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to dabble into the internal affairs of ADC, as the suit was non-justiciable.

He also held that Abejide lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit, having failed to show to the court that his rights had been violated in any way as a result of the emergence of Mark-led leadership.

He equally held that Abejide, who is a member of House of Representatives, failed to explore the party’s internal mechanism for dispute resolution.

Justice Liman also resolved the three issues in the substantive suit in favour of the defendants.

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On whether Mark, the former Senate president and Aregbesola, who was former Governor of Osun, emerged as leaders of the party in compliance with the enabling laws, the judge resolved this against Abejide, the plaintiff in the suit.

He held that the handing over of the leadership of the party by Nwosu to Mark did not violate the provisions of the party’s constitution.

The judge agreed that the disputed July 2, 2025 meeting of the party was a stakeholder meeting which preceded the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, that produced Mark and Aregbesola as party’s leaders which was monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Liman, therefore, declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of ADC was valid and in accordance with the constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026 and party’s law.

The judge consequently awarded a fine of N2 million each in favour of all the defendants which shall be paid by Abejide.

He also awarded a N10 million fine against Abejide’s lawyer in compliance with the Electioral Act, 2026.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abejide had instituted the suit to stop Mark-led leadership of ADC.

In the originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 filed on Feb. 15 by Idris, the lawmaker sued ADC, Ralph Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola and INEC as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

NAN reports that Nwosu was the former national chairman of ADC who stepped down for Mark, the ex-Senate president.

Abejide, among the eight reliefs, sought an order nullifying Nwosu’s handover or transfer of ADC’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola as interim national chairman and intenm national secretary respectively on July 2, 2025, at Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja for being illegal, unlawful, null and void.

He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as leaders of the party “as thelr purported appointment, selection or election was unlawful, illegal, null and void.”

He also sought perpetual injunction, restraining INEC from recognising Mark and Aregbesola as ADC’s interim national chairman and interim national secretary “.

He alleged that their appointment, selection or election did not meet the requirements of Section 82 of the Electoral Act, 2022,” among other prayers.

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