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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday raised alarm over the country’s poor doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:19,083, describing it as far from global best practice.

The association, in a statement marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, said the situation reflects the dire state of the nation’s healthcare system.

NARD further announced that, effective October 1, 2025, resident doctors nationwide will no longer take continuous calls exceeding 24 hours.

The statement was jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim.

The country continues to grapple with a severe shortage of doctors, a crisis deepened by the steady migration of health professionals in search of better pay and working conditions abroad.

The federal government had said that over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in the last five to seven years, leaving hospitals and training institutions under immense pressure.

The exodus has placed an overwhelming burden on those who remain, particularly resident doctors.

NARD said, ‘With an estimated population of over 240 million people and only about 11,000 resident doctors, Nigeria records a ratio of 1:9,083. This is far from global best practice.

‘Furthermore, Nigerian resident doctors work an average of 106.5 hours per week, with surgical residents enduring over 122.7 hours weekly. This translates to an average of four to five days of 24-hour call duty per week.’

This workload, it said, has dire consequences not only for patient care but also for the well-being of doctors themselves.

It said, ‘This situation is deeply troubling. It inevitably leads to increased medical errors due to burnout, endangering patients’ safety, with a severe toll on the mental, physical, and psychological well-being of doctors. Too often, resident doctors sacrifice their health, and sometimes their lives, in service to their patients.

‘The consequences are tragically evident with early-career doctors paying the ultimate price. But the painful question remains: Who cares for their families and dependents after their passing? The bigger question is: How many more lives must we lose before decisive action is taken?’

The association called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to implement a one-to-one replacement policy to reduce the crushing workload on doctors and to establish safeguarding regulations to curb excessive call hours, ensuring the safety of both doctors and patients.

NARD also said the few doctors who have remained in Nigeria despite mass emigration are patriots and heroes.

It said, ‘They deserve not only protection but also fair and equitable remuneration commensurate with their inputs. If we do not safeguard ourselves, who will? On this day when Nigeria celebrates its independence and national progress, let us also reflect on the sacrifices resident doctors continue to make and the grave challenges they face. Chief among these are the burden of more than 24-hour uninterrupted calls and poor remuneration, a practice that demands urgent reform.

‘We cannot continue to lose our members to preventable and avoidable deaths – not now, and not in the future.’

In 2003, on the watch of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the World Values Survey declared Nigeria as home to the world’s happiest people. By 2024, however, Nigeria had plummeted from this endearing and shimmering position to 104 in the happiness index.

In spite of this precipitous plunge to the nadir of happiness – and for obvious reasons – tribute must be paid to the forbearance and fortitude of Nigerians. For in spite of difficulties, equating, if not surpassing those of such basket cases as Nepal and Bangladesh, Nigerians have carried on with uncommon perseverance and long-suffering.

By the same token, homage must be paid to the can-do and never-say-die spirit of the Nigerian. This spirit is epitomised and exemplified by the tendency of the Nigerian, against the odds, to fend for himself/herself in nearly all facets of life. Where governments – federal, state and local – are hopelessly derelict in providing such basic infrastructure and amenities as roads, water, electricity, schools, hospitals, etc. – Nigerians, especially better-heeled ones, are forthcoming. They have weighed in, thereby filling these lacunae.

Most Nigerians provide access roads to their estates, streets and households. They drill their boreholes. They invest in private schools (Crèche, Primary and Tertiary). They invest in solar panels to make up for the shortcomings of our electricity and distributing companies (GENCOs and DISCOs), whose acronyms do not suggest or convey any seriousness or sense of purpose.

If homage is paid to Nigerians for providing for themselves, where their governments have failed, woefully and spectacularly, tribute must be paid to their sense of enterprise and industry. Drawing from a proud work ethic that celebrates and lionizes persons who fend for themselves and others rather than relying on handouts, most Nigerians have found recourse in one enterprise or the other. This has led to a proliferation of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the country.

Referred to in economic parlance as the informal sector, small businesses employ more Nigerians than any other, apart from the agricultural one, which hitherto led the way until the advent of oil.

In spite of the behemoth known as the Organised Private Sector (OPS), the informal sector of the economy has co-opted many of our youths, who ordinarily would have been idling away or constituting a menace, from our streets. This has kept millions of our youths gainfully employed. It has also imbued them with genuine hope.

Yet, even this sector, arising from the vagaries of government policies and predilections, is receiving one of its severest buffetings. This writer’s survey of a number of small businesses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and four states adjoining it, suggests that they are facing a number of existential and life-threatening headwinds.

Power or electricity is one of the major challenges. Sometimes, for nearly one week, electricity will not be supplied by the DISCOs covering these states and the FCT to the chagrin of businesses. A week ago, nearly all districts of the FCT went without electricity for five days. It was the same in neighbouring Niger State. Kaduna was worse: It went without electricity for seven days, reducing that state to the Stone Age.

In the absence of electricity, most businesses in these states and the FCT have had to rely on generators, thus incurring additional costs. And since they are located in what are referred to as civil service states, their being bereft of industries, they run on losses. They can hardly pass off these costs on their customers who are smarting under cost of living crises and whose disposable incomes have shrunk to near zero.

Transportation is another challenge. Following the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, the cost of transportation has quadrupled. In most cases, workers do not reside close to their places of employment. In Abuja, this state of affairs is worse: Not less than ninety percent of workers reside in suburbs and outskirts outside the City Centre. This has compelled employers to increase salaries marginally, to downsize or to devise a curious roaster in which staffers come to work thrice in a week and in rotation. These, of course, have consequences for morale and joblessness.

In one hotel at Wuse II, investigations show that most of the staffers have been laid off due to the hard times. Staffers are invited to work only on a need basis and when the hotel records a high volume of room bookings. Meanwhile, whether there are guests or not, the hotel must run its generators on a daily basis to secure the premises, present a semblance of activity and preserve the foodstuffs it has stocked in its refrigerators.

Compounding the contrivance of an intriguing working roaster for staff or finding recourse in casuals, which offends Labour practices, are multiple taxations imposed, roughshod by federal, state and local governments. In nearly all these states and the FCT, demand notices for ground rents are issued by the state and Local Governments simultaneously. All manner of taxes are also demanded. Worse of all, they are usually issued cavalierly and with sadistic relish. It is as if the business person has committed an offence for daring to venture out or to invest.

These obnoxious multiple taxations and other vexatious charges have reared their heads in recent times. These have arisen out of a frenzied quest for Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs). It is healthy for states to generate revenue and to rely less on statutory monthly federal allocations. But the haughty manner in which taxes are imposed and the sadistic manner in which they are exacted goes beyond the pale. It hardly encourages the small business person to venture out or to invest, thereby creating jobs in the process. Neither have we seen, apart from white elephant flyovers being constructed in state capitals, any concerted efforts by state governments to address our infrastructure deficit or the provision of amenities.

This writeup is intended to call attention to the havoc governments, especially state and local, are wrecking on businesses and the urgent need for our tax reform to streamline and harmonise taxes in the three tiers of government.

The fears of the small business person must not only be assuaged, an environment must be created for him/her to thrive. Otherwise, rather than grow, the economy will remain in its doldrums with negative consequences.

The continuously lower contribution of the manufacturing sector to Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should instruct us. By the recent accounting of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the contribution of the Manufacturing sector to Nominal GDP in the second quarter of 2025 was 6.87%, lower than the figure recorded in the corresponding period of 2024 at 7.84% and for good measure, lower than the first quarter of 2025 which was 10.78%. We don’t have any figures relating to the growth rate of the informal sector. But your guess is as good as mine!

As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, October 1, Basketball Promoter and Initiator of the Mark D’ Ball Basketball Championship, Mr. Igoche Mark, has commended the country’s athletes for their outstanding contributions to national pride and global recognition.

In a heartfelt message, Mr. Mark praised both active and retired athletes for their enduring impact. ‘Your dedication, hard work, and achievements have not only brought us pride but have also inspired a generation of Nigerians,’ he stated.

The sports administrator further urged the National Sports Commission to establish a structured platform to celebrate athletes and recognize their invaluable contributions. He emphasized the importance of honouring their legacy and providing avenues for their continued involvement in sports after retirement.

To support athletes in their post-career journey, Mr. Mark stressed the need for clear support systems. ‘Retirement plans be implemented to ensure a seamless transition into life after sports. This would enable athletes to plan for their future and maximize their post-athletic careers,’ he recommended.

He also proposed a comprehensive welfare package for retired athletes, covering healthcare, education, and economic empowerment programs. ‘By doing so, we can show our appreciation for their service and ensure that they are taken care of,’ Mr. Mark added.

As the country celebrates Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation, Mr. Mark’s remarks reflect a growing national call to not only honour past and present athletes but also to ensure their welfare and inclusion in shaping the future of Nigerian sports.

The resurgence of armed secessionist violence, the rise of politically sponsored cult groups, and institutional weaknesses collectively pose serious threats to the credibility, inclusiveness, and safety of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State, a new report has warned.

The Security Threat Assessment report, presented by the Director of Programmes at CLEEN Foundation, Dr. Salaudeen Hashim, ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship poll, revealed that since 2022, more than 200 lives have been lost to politically or ideologically motivated violence in Anambra State, with Ihiala Local Government Area accounting for over 46 confirmed deaths.

‘While certain LGAs remain relatively stable, the cumulative effect of violence in key zones like Ihiala, Ogbaru and Orumba could erode public confidence in the electoral process and discourage participation,’ the report said.

It further cautioned that without deliberate interventions to curb voter suppression, reform security deployment strategies, and restore trust in community institutions, the risk of election-day violence and post-election grievances remains high.

Key findings highlighted in the report include heightened insecurity in specific LGAs, politicisation of cult groups and youth gangs, weak security infrastructure and institutional gaps, voter suppression through fear, misinformation, and mobility constraints, as well as community fragmentation and manipulation of traditional institutions.

To address these threats, the report recommended targeted risk mapping and early warning mechanisms in high-risk LGAs like Ihiala, Ogbaru, and Orumba North through regular, data-driven threat assessments and locally driven early warning systems.

It urged the involvement of community stakeholders, INEC, traditional leaders, town union presidents, peacebuilding structures, security agencies, CSOs, and the media to ensure a timely response to potential security threats and prevent escalation before, during, and after the election.

The report further called on security agencies to prioritise the identification, disarmament, and prosecution of cult groups and their political sponsors, particularly in flashpoints like Nnewi and Onitsha. It also stressed the need to rebuild and strengthen police stations and INEC offices in previously attacked or underserved areas such as Anambra East, Ogbaru, and Idemili South to ensure adequate coverage across all LGAs.

Also, it recommended intensifying voter education and public sensitisation campaigns in fear-stricken areas like Anambra West and Ihiala to counter voter suppression, while urging credible CSOs and investigative journalists to fact-check and counter misinformation before, during, and after the elections to promote peace and calm.

In his opening remarks, Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, expressed optimism that the Anambra election would be counted among Nigeria’s successful staggered polls. He urged citizens to turn out en masse and exercise their right to vote.

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/ Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), in conjunction with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested two fake police officers with two trucks loaded with cannabis.

Acting on credible intelligence, troops alongside NDLEA personnel intercepted and apprehended two fake policemen at Takum Junction in Wukari Local Government Area.

The suspects, who were dressed in mobile police uniforms, were found with two Toyota Hilux vehicles loaded with substances suspected to be cannabis.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Jalingo, Lieutenant Umar Mohammed, said a preliminary investigation revealed that none of the occupants are serving policemen.

He stated that the cannabis-laden vehicles were traced to have been loaded from Akure in Ondo State, and were heading towards Adamawa State.

Lieutenant Umar explained that one of the arrested suspects has been identified as Monday George, a 71-year-old dismissed Police ASP, and the other as Ezeugo Destiny Uche, 41 years old, while the occupants of the second Hilux abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on sighting the troops.

‘A total of 1,134 blocks of cannabis were recovered from the two vehicles. Both the suspects and the recovered exhibits have been handed over to the NDLEA office in Wukari for further investigation and prosecution,’ he said.

The Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage Bank, Hayatudeen Atiku Awwal has stated that the Bank has accessed N27 billion in Mortgage loans for over 3,400 Nigerians since inception.

The Managing Director made the disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday at the commissioning of the New FHA Mortgage bank corporate headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said, ‘FHA Mortgage Bank was incorporated in 1997 and since then has been one of the biggest collaborato4 with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

‘I stand proud today to say that we have accessed well over 27 billion on behalf of 3,427 Nigerians. And these eligible contributors who are Nigerian have their houses across the 36 states of the federation including Abuja.

‘In addition, through the PENCOM retirement savings window, we facilitated access to mortgages for well over 6,000 Nigerians. Again, through the family home funds, we have delivered keys to residential buildings for our customers in Asaba, Delta State, among others with genuine developers,’ he said.

Speaking on the future plans of the authority, Awwal noted that ‘In the future, we are aiming to be a national bank. Already the Central Bank of Nigeria has been informed of that and they have located it, given us a checklist of what is outstanding and we pray and hope with our commitment that soon, this bank will be a national bank.

‘We also intend to expand at least 20 branches nationwide in the next 3 years to grow our active customer base to 100,000 families, to scale our loan portfolio to N100 billion,’ he added.

Also speaking, the Board Chairman of FHA Mortgage Bank, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo stated that the Mortgage Bank has over the years operated to aid Nigerians with Mortgage to build their own homes.

I write this column with a heavy heart on the occasion of my country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary. We must acknowledge the sacrifices it took us to come this far, from those who gave their lives and offered years of dedicated service to ensure that Nigeria is not worse than it is right now. We may not be where we want to be, but the journey has not ended yet.

Still, tragedies like the death of the journalist Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, and the thousands of avoidable tragedies unfolding across the country daily, do not only dampen days like this, when the country should be celebrating a milestone, but continue to shred the already battered optimism Nigerians have about this country.

That optimism we had from commemorating Independence Day as schoolchildren back in the day, standing along the street or in the stadiums with shiny lotioned faces, stiffly pressed uniforms, and hearts full of euphoria to wave past our governors and cheer on the impressive parades all seem so far away now. The children growing up in this generation will only vicariously experience that euphoria through our nostalgic recollection of those days. Sadly, not many Nigerians like to recall those days because it will just retraumatise you over the pains the country has inflicted on us.

Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who died at 29 on Monday morning, somehow retained her optimism for Nigeria. She studied in the UK, returned home to Nigeria, and was enthusiastic about participating in politics because she believed she could contribute to making the country better.

The fact that she died during an armed robbery invasion of her residence in Katampe, Abuja, is shocking enough. What makes it even more painful are the circumstances surrounding this death.

Crime is a universal phenomenon, and there is hardly any society in the world, no matter how wealthy or advanced, that has been able to eradicate it completely. The objective of any well-governed society has always been the mitigation of crime to the barest minimum, and crucially, prompt and effective response to distress calls when crimes happen.

Over the last 65 years of independence, we have not really improved on our crime rates or notably improved our responses to crimes commensurate with our development and population growth.

With increasing access to small arms and light weapons, coupled with increasing social, political, and economic discontent, crime rates over the last 20 years have continued to soar. For example, over the last few months, homicide rates rose by 25 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with 222 tracked cases against 177 previously, according to the Lagos-based Nigeria Risk Index. In February 2025 alone, there were 83 cases recorded. Mind you, this data is limited and often excludes incidents from hard-to-access regions of the country, of which we know there are far too many.

Over the last few months, we have also witnessed an increase in deaths from banditry and insurgency, with the data showing that at least 2,266 people were killed by bandits or insurgents in the first half of 2025, already exceeding last year’s total.

With one out of five surveyed Nigerians reporting that they were victims of crimes (violent and non-violent) in the last year, it is clear that safety is a major concern in the country and we must actively work to curb crime.

What the numbers mean is that criminals have the audacity to colonise parts of the country, as they have done in parts of the Northwest, the Northeast, and the Southeast, or raid huge apartment blocks and take their sweet time breaking in from one apartment to the other, as they did in Katampe in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of Somtochukwu and one of the security men protecting the building.

In all these cases, our security responses have been lamentable, sometimes deliberately slow because even our security personnel sometimes fear to confront the criminals, preferring to show up well after the goons have left with their loot. Far too often, their sacrifices for our safety are ignored, and their families left to suffer in vain.

The most heartbreaking part about Ms Maduagwu’s death is the reported decision of the Maitama General Hospital not to treat her immediately when she was eventually brought to the hospital. Reportedly, they refused to do so until identification was provided and they obtained clearance from the police.

The law has been clear about this. Section 20 of The National Health Act (NHA) 2014, for instance, stipulates that every healthcare provider or health establishment is legally prohibited from refusing any person emergency medical treatment for any reason. Failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence, punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

The fact that we needed the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act 2017, and the Patients’ Bill of Rights 2018, both of which mandate all hospitals, public or private, to accept and treat patients needing emergency care, including those with gunshot wounds or accident victims, without waiting for police clearance or upfront payment, means there is a deeply entrenched culture that needs to be uprooted.

However, the laws notwithstanding, hospitals have continued to refuse patients urgent care over police clearance or upfront payment. For decades, law enforcement has harassed hospitals and law-abiding citizens who have offered emergency assistance or reported crimes or made distress calls on behalf of accident or crime victims. Rushing an injured person to a hospital may as well see you being harassed by law enforcement as a possible perpetrator of a crime. This doesn’t only disincentivise rendering urgent assistance but imposes a habit of wanting to avoid police drama by walking away or hesitating when urgent intervention is required.

With hospitals, the privileging of profit over saving lives, and the fear of police harassment is a violation of the Hippocratic Oath that guides medical conduct. And as we have seen with Somtochukwu’s death, the law notwithstanding, this deeply entrenched culture still persists.

It is this culture that is referred to when Nigerians talk about Nigeria not happening to you. The normalisation of this culture of unjustifiable neglect and lack of empathy or the prioritisation of profit over the sanctity of human life is the bane of our country. And it is not only the hospitals that favour payment over saving lives. Even the police have done this far too often. I have reported before how an accident victim on the Abuja-Keffi express road was allowed to bleed out by the police, who instead of getting him immediately to a hospital, preferred to wait over the offending car that amputated the young boy, to make some quick bucks off the driver.

Or how often have we witnessed or heard tales of police officers refusing to convey victims to emergency medical care because the police vehicles ‘no get fuel,’ and how the car miraculously starts moving once bribes are offered.

So, while people in countries like the US or even the relatively low-crime countries of Scandinavia may be shot in their homes, because people will always have reasons to unleash violence on each other, or suffer accidents, they are almost always assured of emergency help and care. The fact that we cannot say the same about Nigeria is the biggest tragedy of our 65 years of independence, as epitomised today by Somtochukwu’s death.

While there is nothing that can be done to bring her back, to undo the damage that this culture has done to her and her family, and thousands of Nigerian families, there is something that could be done for millions of others, who inevitably will be needing urgent interventions to save their lives. Her death could be a turning point, from which the negligence of both law enforcement and the hospital, if any is detected by the investigation, is properly sanctioned as an example for others. If any parties are found culpable, through negligent conduct or clear violations of the law and the demands of their sworn duties, they should be indicted and penalised as stipulated by the law.

At the same time, we must retrain both security and medical personnel on prioritising human lives ahead of payment or the myth of some police procedural, and commend private citizens who offer emergency assistance instead of harassing them. We must be deliberate about eliminating this detrimental culture that we have imbibed. Until we do, may Nigeria never happen to us.

A tipper truck driver reportedly crashed near Gosa village along the Airport Road, Abuja, while attempting to evade arrest by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel.

A witness, Benjamin Moses, said the incident happened on Monday around 2:12 pm.

The tipper, which was conveying laterite, was driving against traffic (one-way) near the entrance of Fourth Royal Estate, close to Gosa Market.

Moses explained that FRSC personnel in a Hilux patrol van attempted to stop and arrest the driver for the traffic offence. ”Upon noticing the FRSC officers pursuing him, the tipper driver allegedly increased his speed and suddenly rammed into a pothole, causing the vehicle to overturn in the middle of the road,” the witness narrated.

According to Moses, the driver and his assistant narrowly escaped unhurt and immediately fled the scene, abandoning the overturned tipper.

Our reporter, who stopped at the scene, observed another truck attempting to lift the fallen tipper with the help of some motorists.

An FRSC official, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident and blamed the driver for driving against traffic.

He reiterated that the driver increased his speed upon seeing the patrol van, which led to the crash.

‘Actually, the tipper driver was plying through one-way, which he knows is a traffic offence,’ the official said. ‘Out of fear upon sighting the FRSC coming, he now accelerated further which led to the driver to run into a big pothole.’

The official confirmed that there were no casualties in the incident, adding that the truck, which had caused an obstruction, was later towed from the road.

For years, Mondays in the Southeast have been reduced to ghost towns. Streets lie empty, shops remain shut, schools are locked, and the hum of economic life is silenced. The so-called ‘sit-at-home’ order has crippled business, strangled education, and eroded confidence in government’s ability to guarantee normal life.

Yet, in public, leaders insist there is no sit-at-home. Governors say citizens are free to go about their businesses, but their own actions tell a different story. They avoid scheduling important events on Mondays, quietly conceding to the very fear they deny.

Even at the highest level of power, this contradiction is glaring. When late President Muhammadu Buhari visited Imo State in September 2022, it was on a Tuesday, not a Monday. The calculation was obvious: avoid the optics of empty streets and deserted markets that define Southeast Mondays.

By avoiding Monday, the President has, knowingly, reinforced the silent admission that sit-at-home is still real. Leaders dodge Mondays because they fear the photographs of ghostly roads, thin crowds, and absent fanfare. But what they avoid is precisely what true leadership should confront.

Imagine if President Tinubu had chosen Monday. Imagine the symbolism of a President landing in Owerri on a Monday morning, cutting ribbons in front of cheering crowds, walking confidently on streets that have for years been surrendered to silence. That single act could have gone beyond just cutting ribbons to cutting through fears that has for long griped our people, given ordinary citizens the courage to step out, to open their shops, to send their children to school, and to reclaim their Mondays. It would have been remembered as the turning point that broke the psychological chains of fear.

Instead, another opportunity has been lost. Another Monday has been conceded to emptiness. Another chance to restore dignity and courage to a people has slipped away.

Leadership is not only about commissioning flyovers, decorating cities or digital learning centers. It is also about building confidence in the hearts of citizens. If Tinubu truly wants to be remembered as a friend of ndi Igbo, he must move beyond staged ceremonies and confront the deeper realities that keep the Southeast shackled.

The empty streets our leaders avoid are not just empty, they are symbols of a shutdown. And history will not be kind to those who had the power to end it but chose convenience instead.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed dismay over the inhuman treatment of Nigerian girls in India, calling for an immediate probe into the situation by authorities.

A statement by the spokesman of the organisation, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Tuesday, said NiDCOM ‘received with deep distress and utter dismay reports alleging the rape, assault, and forced administration of unknown substances on Nigerian girls held in deportation camps in New Delhi, India.’

According to disturbing accounts and videos shared by some of the victims, these young women are subjected to inhumane treatment and grave violations of their dignity and fundamental human rights.

The alleged acts of sexual violence, physical abuse, and intimidation are both heartbreaking and unacceptable.

Balogun said Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, strongly condemned these reported abuses in the strongest possible terms, insisting that ‘Nigerian citizens, wherever they are in the world, must not be treated as less than human, nor should their vulnerability be exploited under the guise of immigration procedures.’

‘We are further alarmed by claims that corrupt practices involving middlemen and certain groups are worsening the plight of our citizens through exploitation and extortion. If verified, such actions not only endanger lives but also undermine justice and due process.’

While reassuring the victims and their families that these disturbing reports will not be ignored, NiDCOM said it was already engaging with the Nigerian High Commission in India, relevant Indian authorities, and international human rights organisations to ascertain the veracity of these claims and ensure that immediate and urgent steps are taken to protect the victims, provide them with medical and psychological support, and bring perpetrators to justice.

‘We call on the Government of India to urgently investigate these allegations, close down any channels of exploitation, and ensure the safety and dignity of Nigerians within its borders,’ the statement said.