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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.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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