Politics
Nigeria’s Medical Care, Less Expensive – Expert
Medical care in Nigeria
has been said to be less expensive as compared to that obtained abroad.
Rivers State based medical practitioner, Dr U.I Fingesi stated this while speaking at the Youth And Profession/Skill’ programme organized by the Adventist Youth Ministries of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Mile One, Port Harcourt Central District in Port Harcourt, Sunday.
Fingesi who noted that the notion of Nigerian medical care being expensive was widespread among Nigerians said that it was as a result of the economic standard of the nation.
According to him, the average Nigerian looks for what to eat first before medical care adding that medical care comes mostly at the dying stage of the patient which demands more than it would have been at the beginning.
“According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), poverty is living below one dollar per day. Going by this definition the average Nigerian is poor and so accessing medical care becomes almost the last option. Otherwise, there is no way we can compare what we have here to that which obtains abroad in terms of medical care putting into consideration the transportation, hotel bills and others that will be spent while receiving the care.
While fielding questions from participants of the programme, Fingesi described the medical profession as humanitarian stating that the patient was the first option of the medical doctor above everything else.
In his words ‘medical practice is humanitarian because it is the patient first. Irrespective of the amount paid to the medical personnel, life can never be compared”.
“Unfortunately, most of the patients and even their relatives have not been understanding. The attitudes of some of the doctors do not come in the empty but as a result of their ill-experiences with patients and their relatives. A lot of these patients are of the habit of absconding with their treatment bills. Consequently, the doctor is left with the option of demanding for a deposit before commencing treatment because these doctors use money to purchase the materials used for the treatment. Nevertheless, as an ethic of the profession, the patient’s life remains first,” he said.
Fingesi further noted that the some what callous attitude of some medical personnel was due largely to the numerous patients for a single doctor saying “because several other patients are waiting for you, you need to hurry up with the one you are attending to. This hasty nature does not give room for pleasantries and cordiality and it looks as if the doctors are nasty.”
Fingesi therefore called for more medical doctors to meet with the numerous medical challenge of the state and the nation at large.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.