Lagos

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A recent analysis of how medical professionals are spread across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has uncovered some striking differences in the number of doctors available to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.

Leading the pack is Lagos, the nation’s bustling commercial center, boasting an impressive 7,385 doctors. Following closely is the FCT with 4,453 doctors, and then Rivers, which has 2,194 doctors.

Other notable states include Enugu with 2,070 doctors, Oyo with 1,996, and Edo with 1,777, all of which highlight the correlation between urbanization and the demand for healthcare services.

These areas tend to attract more healthcare workers, drawn by the opportunities in metropolitan settings.

However, the report also sheds light on a troubling disparity in healthcare professional availability across different states.

While southern and southwestern states generally enjoy a better doctor-to-population ratio, the northern and northeastern regions are facing a significant shortage of medical personnel.

Taraba, situated in northeastern Nigeria, has the fewest doctors, with only 201, which raises serious concerns about the challenges of providing adequate healthcare in that area.

Other states like Yobe (275 doctors), Adamawa (280 doctors), and Kebbi (273 doctors) further illustrate how the distribution of medical staff is heavily tilted towards more urbanized and economically prosperous regions.

Among the states with lower doctor counts, Zamfara (267 doctors), Jigawa (255 doctors), and Gombe (485 doctors) also highlight a significant gap in healthcare access.

This uneven distribution means that many areas in Nigeria, especially in the north and rural regions, are struggling to deliver quality healthcare services to their communities.

In contrast, southern states like Akwa Ibom (888 doctors) and Abia (829 doctors) show a more favorable situation, underscoring the ongoing challenges in achieving equitable healthcare access across the country.

By Abdulhamid Abdullahi Aliyu

A wave of emotions swept through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday, March 4, as 144 stranded Nigerians returned home from Libya. Some wept as they stepped onto Nigerian soil, clutching their few belongings, while others sighed in relief after months of hardship in the North African country.

The returnees—mostly women and children—arrived aboard a chartered Boeing aircraft at exactly 4:45 p.m. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) facilitated their homecoming in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other key stakeholders. Officials swiftly processed them, ensuring they underwent the necessary procedures for reintegration into society.

Among the returnees were 100 women, 8 men, 26 children, and 10 infants—individuals who had left Nigeria seeking a better future, only to find themselves ensnared in a nightmare. Libya, once viewed as a gateway to Europe, has become a dangerous trap for migrants. Many face forced labor, sexual exploitation, kidnappings, and inhumane detentions, with little hope of escape.

NEMA and its partners have worked tirelessly for years to bring stranded Nigerians home. At the airport, officials from the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Department of State Services (DSS), Port Health Services, and the Nigeria Police Force were on the ground to facilitate their return. The returnees underwent biometric registration, medical screening, and psychological counseling before being transported to the Igando IDPs Resettlement Center for reintegration programs.

Yet, for many, homecoming is bittersweet. Aisha, 27, left Nigeria two years ago with dreams of a better life. Instead, she found herself trapped in Libya, forced to work under exploitative conditions just to survive. Holding her two-year-old son close, she said, “I don’t know where to start. I sold everything to travel. Now, I’m back with nothing.”

To help returnees like Aisha, the IOM, in partnership with NEMA and other agencies, provides reintegration support, including vocational training, business grants, and psychosocial counseling. These programs are essential in helping them rebuild their lives and find new opportunities at home.

This latest evacuation is part of an ongoing effort to rescue Nigerians from Libya’s brutal realities. Over the years, thousands have been repatriated, yet the cycle of irregular migration persists. Despite continuous awareness campaigns, human traffickers still lure young Nigerians with false promises of a better life abroad.

Experts argue that while evacuation efforts are commendable, the real solution lies in addressing the root causes of migration—unemployment, poverty, and lack of opportunities. Without viable alternatives at home, many will continue to take desperate risks.

Relief and uncertainty filled the air as the returnees settled into the temporary resettlement center. Some saw their return not as a failure but as a second chance. “I just want to find a way to care for my son,” Aisha said. “I don’t regret coming back. At least I am alive.”

The mission of NEMA and its partners is clear: to help returnees rebuild their lives. But for Nigeria, the bigger challenge remains—creating a future where its youth no longer feel compelled to risk everything for an uncertain journey abroad.

Abdulhamid Abdullahi Aliyu—an NYSC serving corps member, writes from the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) in Abuja.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious 59-year-old drug baron, Ogbonnaya Kevin Jeff, at his hideout in Lagos after 17 years on the run.

The arrest followed an Interpol red notice and intelligence from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) disclosed that Jeff, a key figure in an international drug trafficking syndicate, had been smuggling illicit drugs worth billions of naira into South Korea.

His arrest on February 12, 2025, led to the recovery of multiple passports, Korean visas, and illicit substances at his residence.

Jeff, who previously served a one-year prison term in South Korea in 2007, continued his operations remotely, recruiting couriers and laundering drug proceeds through electronics imports.

He is wanted in South Korea for multiple drug trafficking offences, with two arrest warrants issued by the Seoul Central District Court in 2024.

Marwa reaffirmed NDLEA’s commitment to dismantling drug networks and ensuring Nigeria is not a haven for drug cartels.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to prioritize the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea.

He made the call at the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa.

He also offered Lagos as the potential host city for the task force’s headquarters.

In his address, delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, President Tinubu reiterated the urgent need for such a task force to safeguard the region.

This comes as Nigeria signed an agreement with the AU to provide Strategic Sea Lift Services for peace support operations, humanitarian efforts, and personnel movement.

Under this agreement, Nigeria’s Navy will offer a vessel for the operations on a cost-recovery basis.

Key figures such as Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Badaru Abubakar, and Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, were present at the signing ceremony, alongside AU officials, including Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

President Tinubu also praised the AUPSC’s decision to upgrade the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre to a Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre and to renew the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force addressing terrorism in the Lake Chad region.

Additionally, President Tinubu expressed concern over the escalating instability in Libya, linking it to the worsening security situation in the Sahel, and urged the Assembly to support efforts aimed at restoring order in Libya.

He also highlighted security challenges in countries undergoing democratic transitions, including Sudan, Mali, and Niger.

The Nigerian leader showed strong support for the establishment of an African-led credit rating agency (ACRA), which would provide fairer and more transparent assessments of African economies.

He further backed the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism (AFSM) to support member states in addressing financial vulnerabilities and fostering economic resilience.

This initiative, designed to provide financial stability and support long-term development goals, has gained significant traction in recent AU discussions.

President Tinubu concluded by commending the progress made on the African Standby Force and urged the AU to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its operationalization.