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Japa: Lagos Suffers Deficit Of 30,000 Doctors, Commissioner Laments

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as Sanwo-Olu approves the expansion of LASUCOM, the conversion of isolation centres

to train 12,500 health professionals in 5yrs

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Lagos State currently faces a deficit of 30,000 doctors and a significant shortage of nurses, pharmacists, dentists, laboratory scientists, and other allied health professionals.

This comes as State Government handed over key medical infrastructure to contractors for conversion into modern academic facilities aimed to combat the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in the state. The moves followed approval by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The infrastructure include; Expansion of Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, the transformation of the CACOVID Isolation Centre at the Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, into large lecture theatres and multi-disciplinary laboratories, and the conversion of the Cardio-Renal Centre at Gbagada General Hospital into academic offices and tutorial lecture rooms.

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This ambitious expansion of key medical education facilities is geared towards accommodating the imminent increase in student admissions across critical medical disciplines, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and allied health professions.

The goal is to scale up student admissions from the current 200 to 2,500 annually within the next five years, significantly increasing Lagos’ capacity to train healthcare professionals.

Speaking at the official handover of the facilities, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stressed that the initiative was a response to the severe shortage of human resources for health, exacerbated by the sustained outbound migration of medical professionals, otherwise known as Japa syndrome.

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According to him, “Lagos currently faces a deficit of 30,000 doctors and a significant shortage of nurses, pharmacists, dentists, laboratory scientists, and other allied health professionals.

“The expansion is part of a broader two-pronged strategy approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to mitigate the crisis. The first approach is to produce more healthcare professionals by increasing student intake, which necessitates a substantial expansion of tertiary education infrastructure.

“The government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved a phased expansion of infrastructure to accommodate an increased intake of students in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and allied health sciences.

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“Our target is to scale up annual student admissions from 200 to 2,500 over the next five years,” Abayomi revealed.

He explained that the second approach is to ensure tha students receive quality training, requiring accreditation from regulatory bodies.

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To achieve this, he explained that three critical requirements must be met: Adequate space for training, a sufficient number of academic instructors, and access to a diverse patient population for hands-on clinical training.

“Training healthcare professionals is not just about lecture halls; it requires practical exposure in laboratories and patient care settings. Our expansion plan ensures that all these elements are in place,” he stated.

“In healthcare, bigger is always better. It is preferable to have more capacity than to underestimate future needs.

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“The expanded infrastructure will not only support increased student intake but also enhance Lagos’ credibility with accreditation bodies like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC),” he added.

READ ALSO: South-South, South-East Professionals Demand Reinstatement Of Rivers Democratic Institutions

The commissioner highlighted that the project will provide 1,600 additional lecture theatre seats, 1,600 laboratory spaces, and 110 new office spaces for lecturers and academic staff.

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He assured that Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency, LASIAMA, will oversee the execution to ensure adherence to the highest construction standards.

Expressing gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Abayomi commended their swift response to the crisis. “Their vision and commitment to healthcare and education reform have enabled us to act decisively.

“In four months, we expect to return here to commission these facilities for academic use,” he concluded.

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The State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, praised the initiative as a vital step towards addressing the human capital deficit in the health sector.

Lagos is land-constrained, so we must maximize existing facilities. The Ministry of Health has graciously repurposed underutilized assets to expand medical education infrastructure,” he noted.

He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving health education. “Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Hamzat have shown unwavering support for the health sector. This expansion will not only enhance learning for our students but also strengthen the entire healthcare delivery system in Lagos,” Sule remarked.

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Sule stressed that Sanwo-Olu and his administration have consistently prioritized healthcare education, approving initiatives that enhance training institutions and hospitals.

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“We are grateful for the government’s unwavering support. This expansion will ensure that our students receive world-class training in an environment equipped with the necessary facilities,” he added.

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The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, stressed that the expansion project is crucial for securing accreditation from regulatory bodies.

“We recently increased our medical student intake to 200 in response to federal directives.

“However, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the Nursing Council require us to demonstrate sufficient infrastructure before granting full accreditation,” she explained.

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“Just a few days ago, we were at the court of governors, discussing the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to support increased student intake. The MDCN has mandated medical schools to double their intake, but accreditation is not automatic. This project ensures that we meet the regulatory requirements,” Olatunji-Bello added.

READ ALSO: Court Orders Rivers To Pay Residents N1.1bn For Unlawful Demolitions

Olatunji-Bello acknowledged that the existing LASUCOM infrastructure was originally designed for 50 students per cohort, making expansion imperative. “With today’s handover, we are moving in the right direction. This will put us in a strong position to meet MDCN and NUC standards.”

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She expressed confidence that the new facilities would help LASU meet accreditation standards. “With the support of the state government, we are in a strong position to expand our health programs sustainably. This initiative ensures we produce well-trained professionals to serve Lagos and beyond.”

The Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, described the project as a long-overdue response to Lagos’ growing healthcare needs. “LASUTH plays a critical role in training medical students and postgraduate doctors. This expansion will ease the burden on our facilities and create an optimal learning environment,” he said.

Ms. Adenike Adekanbi, General Manager of LASIAMA, assured that her agency would ensure high-quality project execution. “We have engaged top-tier contractors with proven track records. Our mandate is to deliver world-class academic facilities on schedule and within budget.”

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She reiterated LASIAMA’s commitment to maintaining infrastructure standards. “We will monitor progress rigorously to ensure these buildings meet the needs of future healthcare professionals in Lagos State.”

“The infrastructure expansion marks a significant milestone in Lagos State’s efforts to address the healthcare workforce gap. By repurposing existing facilities and strategically scaling up medical education, the initiative ensures that more students can be trained, ultimately strengthening the state’s healthcare system.

“With the strategic investment, Lagos is laying the groundwork for a robust healthcare workforce, ensuring a future where its residents have access to well-trained medical professionals,” Adekanbi stated.

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(VANGUARD)

 

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Don’t Lose Hope – NYSC To Corps Members

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The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has advised all corps members passing out of the service year in the country not to lose hope despite economic challenges.

Brig:-Gen Olakunle Nafiu, the Director General of NYSC gave the advice in Bauchi, during the distribution of certificates of national service to the 2024 Batch B stream 1 corps members passing out of the scheme.

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Represented by Mr Kufre Umoren, the Bauchi state Coordinator of the scheme, the DG said that Nigeria is a country filled with opportunities that when effectively tapped into, could turn things around.

“I want to encourage you, despite the harsh economic conditions, don’t lose hope in your country. You can still turn the situation around because Nigeria is a land of opportunities.

READ ALSO:NYSC Assures Impactful Participation Of Corps Members On Host Communities

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“If you travel around the country, you will realize that there is no part of the country that does not have mineral resources or one form of economic advantage.

“Don’t give up, I have trust in your strength because the Nigerian youth are resilient, strong, hard working and ingenious.

“It’s not a time for you to go back to your parents and start eating their food again. It’s a time for you to think of how you can provide for and support them,” said the DG.

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According to him, this is a moment for the corps members to start making critical decisions that would shape their futures and plan ahead of their next phase of life.

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Nafiu, who urged the corps members to appreciate their parents and sponsors’ efforts for seeing them through their school, also called on them to appreciate themselves especially, those that had touched other people’s children’s lives and served their nation faithfully.

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“For those of you that have faithfully undergone the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the NYSC, this is the time for you to put into practice what you have learned in the programme.

“It is not a time for you to sit down and be lazy. The world is not like it used to be in our own time.

“So, it’s the time for you to look inward and know what you can do for yourself and for your country.”

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A total number of 1054 corps members including 584 males and 467 females were given their certificates of national service in Bauchi state.

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Edo APC APS, Renowned Journalist, Bags Prestigious Media Apostle Award

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A renowned journalist, political communicator, and mediapreneur, Osehobo Victor Ofure, has been presented with the 2025 Media Apostle Award by the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN).

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The presentation followed a letter signed by Dr. Amina Ebor, Chairman of the Planning Committee, and Mr. Danila Asuno, Secretary, CAMPAN.

The letter stated that the honour was in appreciation of Osehobo’s “outstanding contributions and dedication to the propagation of the Gospel and evangelisation to the body of Christ.”

The award was part of the CAMPAN’s 2025 Feast Day celebrations held on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Benin City.

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The event featured the installation ceremony of new patrons and patronesses, for CAMPAN and a blessing of media work tools by His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop of the Benin Metropolitan See.

READ ALSO: Catholic Bishops Blast Trump’s AI Image As Pope

In his response, Osehobo expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for the recognition, while humbly noting that “there are Catholic Media Practitioners who, in my opinion, are more deserving of this honour. Nevertheless, I appreciate those who found me worthy. A million thanks.”

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Osehobo, an American trained reporter and Editor popularly known as Don, is a prominent figure in Edo State’s media and political landscape.

He is an Amazon published author of 3 books and the publisher of The Correspondent News

A seasoned journalist, he has contributed immensely to political communication, investigative journalism, and media advocacy in Nigeria.

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He currently serves as the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

Beyond politics and publishing, Osehobo has been an active voice for ethical journalism and the intersection of faith and media.

His recognition by CAMPAN is seen as a well-deserved milestone in a career marked by service, integrity, and devotion to both Church and society.

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The 2025 CAMPAN Feast Day is a significant occasion in the Catholic calendar, as it coincided with the celebration of World Communications Day.

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Seven States Spend 190% Of Revenue On Loan Repayment

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Seven states spent an average of 190 per cent of their Internally Generated Revenue on debt servicing in the first quarter of 2025, a development that shows the worsening fiscal strain facing subnational governments.

Data from the Q1 2025 Budget Implementation Reports of Bayelsa, Adamawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Taraba, and Bauchi states show that debt service expenditure in each of the states exceeded their IGR, in some cases by more than 300 per cent.

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The trend, when compared with figures from the preceding quarter (Q4 2024), also reflects a sharp quarter-on-quarter surge in debt service cost, which rose by approximately 51 per cent across the states reviewed.

The PUNCH observed that seven Nigerian states spent a total of N98.71bn on debt servicing in Q1 2025, marking a sharp increase of N33.48bn or 51 per cent compared to the N65.24bn recorded in the previous quarter.

The data further revealed that the combined IGR for the seven states rose modestly from N44.05bn in Q4 2024 to N51.92bn in Q1 2025, indicating an increase of N7.87bn. However, this marginal revenue improvement was outpaced by a surge in debt repayment obligations, highlighting the widening fiscal gap at the subnational level.

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Disbursements from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to the affected states increased from N360.75bn in Q4 2024 to N419.86bn in Q1 2025, representing a rise of N59.11bn within three months. The increase shows the continued dependence of states on federal transfers to meet not only operational costs but also mounting debt obligations.

In Q1 2025, the seven states required a combined total of N46.80bn from their FAAC allocations to fully cover the shortfall between IGR and debt service.

This amount represents approximately 11.15 per cent of their total FAAC inflows of N419.86bn during the period

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In Benue State, debt service costs rose from N1.99bn in Q4 2024 to N21.40bn in Q1 2025, while IGR improved from N1.98bn to N5.18bn within the same period. This means that debt service in the first quarter accounted for 413 per cent of the state’s IGR and 31.6 per cent of total expenditure. The state relied on at least N16.22bn from its FAAC allocation of N58.71bn to meet the shortfall.

Kogi State reported a Q1 2025 IGR of N9.63bn but spent N23.88bn on debt servicing, equivalent to 248 per cent of its IGR. In the preceding quarter, debt service stood at N10.17bn against an IGR of N7.86bn.

READ ALSO: FG Rolls Out Loan Initiative For Creatives, Entrepreneurs

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The state received N55.41bn from FAAC and recorded total expenditure of N110.13bn, of which 21.7 per cent was used for debt repayment. The Kogi State Government recently said that it has liquidated a total debt of N98.8bn since assuming office 15 months ago.

The State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Ashiru Idris, disclosed this during a briefing with journalists following the Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers, Government House, Lokoja.

The commissioner explained that the debts settled include liabilities dating back to the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, as well as the N50bn bailout fund granted to the administration of Idris Wada.

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“So far, this administration, under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has cleared a total of N98.8bn inherited from previous administrations, including the N50bn salary bailout granted to Captain Idris Wada’s administration,” he stated.

Idris attributed this achievement to a significant increase in internally generated revenue. “This success was made possible through the proactive efforts of the Chief Servant of our state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, who empowered the Kogi State Inland Revenue Generation Agency with the mandate to enhance the state’s revenue generation,” he added.

However, existing data shows that the state’s IGR cannot fully cover its debt service costs.

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Adamawa State generated N4.07bn in IGR in Q1 2025 but recorded debt servicing of N8.42bn, representing 206.9 per cent of IGR and 20.7 per cent of the N40.77bn spent in the quarter. The state relied on at least N4.35bn from its FAAC allocation of N37.03bn to meet debt commitments.

While debt service declined slightly from N8.71bn in Q4 2024, the drop in IGR from N4.61bn further exposed the state’s fiscal fragility.

Bayelsa State spent N13.55bn on debt servicing in Q1 2025, exceeding its IGR of N12.55bn by 107.9 per cent. Although FAAC inflows of N120.55bn were sufficient to cover the gap, the data points to a consistent pattern of IGR insufficiency.

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Debt servicing constituted 6.1 per cent of the state’s total Q1 expenditure of N221.54bn. In Q4 2024, Bayelsa had spent N11.98bn on debt servicing, against an IGR of N10.05bn, representing 119.2 per cent.

In Niger State, debt servicing stood at N12.43bn in Q1 2025 compared to an IGR of N12.13bn, meaning 102.4 per cent of local revenue was used to repay debt.

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While this was an improvement from Q4 2024, when IGR was N5.44bn and debt service was N9.27bn, the state still required N296m in FAAC support to cover its repayment obligations. Debt service accounted for 23.2 per cent of the N53.51bn spent in the period.

Taraba State generated only N3.38bn internally in Q1 2025 but spent N7.83bn on debt servicing, equating to 232 per cent of IGR. Debt repayment made up 19.3 per cent of the state’s total expenditure of N40.47bn, and it required at least N4.45bn of its N52.39bn FAAC allocation to close the gap.

In Q4 2024, the state had spent N6.43bn on debt servicing against an IGR of N5.80bn, showing a deterioration in its revenue capacity.

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Bauchi State reported an IGR of N4.97bn in Q1 2025, with debt servicing at N11.20bn, amounting to 225 per cent of its locally generated revenue. The state needed N6.23bn from its N47.23bn FAAC inflow to meet the shortfall.

Debt service made up 11.6 per cent of the total expenditure of N96.84bn. In Q4 2024, Bauchi generated N8.31bn and spent N16.68bn on debt service, a slightly better performance relative to IGR but a worse financial position overall due to declining revenue.

Collectively, the seven states generated N51.91bn in IGR in Q1 2025 and spent N98.36bn on debt servicing, approximately 190 per cent of what they earned internally. This figure represents a significant rise from the N65.26bn spent on debt repayment in Q4 2024, despite the modest growth in IGR.

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In most of the states reviewed, debt service costs ranged from 6 per cent to 32 per cent of total government expenditure, illustrating how rising debt burdens are crowding out developmental spending. The over-reliance on FAAC disbursements to meet debt servicing needs exposes the fiscal vulnerability of subnational governments.

The National Orientation Agency earlier stated that the Bola Tinubu administration’s twin policies of ending petrol subsidy and floating the naira were “tremendous blessings to the states”, leading to a freeing up of revenues, with states witnessing a leap in federal allocations.

According to The PUNCH, eight states were to pay a combined N424.28bn in debt service and to borrow N1.21tn over the next two years, with financial commitments slated for 2025 and 2026.

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READ ALSO: ICPC Probes N71.2bn Discrepancy In Student Loan Disbursement

According to the states’ medium-term fiscal frameworks, the eight states in review – Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kebbi, Osun, Benue, and Kano – were projected to experience varying debt service and borrowing trends. The analysis indicates differences between 2025 and 2026, with some states facing substantial increases in debt service while others focus on reducing borrowing.

The total public debt service for the eight states is projected to be N180.95bn in 2025, with an increase to N243.33bn in 2026, bringing the total public debt service for the two years to N424.28bn.

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Regarding financing (loans), the total for 2025 is expected to be N616.25bn, while it is projected to decrease slightly to N593.09bn in 2026. This results in a total financing (loans) figure of N1.21tn for the 2025 – 2026 period.

These figures highlight the significant financial commitments these states are facing in the coming years, driven by rising debt obligations and continued borrowing.

The Director and Chief Economist at Proshare Nigeria LLC, Teslim Shitta-Bey, earlier warned that the rising debt burden on Nigeria’s subnational governments is likely to challenge their fiscal stability in the coming years.

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He stressed that most state governments, along with the Federal Government, have failed to effectively manage their balance sheets.

Speaking to The PUNCH, Shitta-Bey said, “The challenge here is that most of the governments, including the Federal Government, are unable to manage their balance sheets properly. While borrowing might seem like an easy way to run operations, it is not necessarily the right approach.”

According to Shitta-Bey, borrowing should not be the default solution for governments. “Governments could consider longer-term debt structures that resemble equity, which might actually be more beneficial in the long run,” he explained.

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He also called for a comprehensive register of national assets to help states raise capital. He used the example of the National Stadium, which has not been used for major activities for a while.

Shitta-Bey further lamented the underuse of state revenue bonds, which were originally designed to generate revenue. “States need to focus on raising revenue bonds, instead of general obligation bonds,” he said.
(PUNCH)

 

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