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Guild of Medical Directors Warns of Crisis as Over 50% of Nigeria’s Private Hospitals Close Amid Rising Costs
The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has raised concerns over the financial challenges crippling Nigeria’s private healthcare sector, revealing that over half of the country’s private hospitals have shut down, while those still operating are struggling to survive.
Dr. Raymond Kuti, President of the GMD, disclosed in an interview that monthly closures of private hospitals are accelerating due to escalating costs of essentials like electricity and medical supplies, pushing many to the brink.
“On average, three out of six private hospitals are shutting down monthly,” Dr. Kuti stated, noting that operational costs for energy and imported medical supplies have increased by as much as 500%.
This economic strain has hit Band A hospitals particularly hard. He also cited a decline in patient patronage and the “japa” trend, which has led to severe staffing shortages as young healthcare professionals leave Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad.
The cost barrier has forced many Nigerians to delay necessary medical treatment, with some resorting to self-medication or local remedies due to financial constraints.
Dr. Kuti, who also serves as the Chief Medical Director at Prisms Health Care Limited, urged the government to intervene and support private healthcare facilities, emphasizing their critical role in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“We need the government to recognise the challenges we face and provide the necessary support to ensure that private hospitals can continue to operate and serve the community,” he said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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