Breaking News
BREAKING: Kaduna state’s health sector still in crisis despite government’s funding claims
At the 2025 National Health Dialogue, the Kaduna State government highlighted what it described as major strides in rebuilding the state’s health sector, citing improvements in primary healthcare, expanded workforce capacity, and strengthened emergency response systems.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Despite these claims, PREMIUM TIMES reports published between 2023 and 2025 show persistent gaps across the state’s health system, raising questions about whether the government’s reforms are translating into real improvements for communities.
Speaking during a fireside conversation at the dialogue, the State’s Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, highlighted the administration’s commitment to strengthening the health sector, noting that health has consistently received 15 per cent of the state’s total budget since the current administration assumed office in 2023.
Ms Balarabe said the sustained allocation reflects the government’s intention to expand access to quality care while improving outcomes, particularly for mothers and children.
She emphasised the importance of involving young people in governance, arguing that the future of leadership and development depends on the opportunities they are provided today.
According to her, Kaduna is adopting a multi-sectoral approach to health by linking education, nutrition and healthcare to build resilience across communities.
Do you live in Ogijo
She added that the state is also improving emergency care systems and upgrading health facilities to deliver more reliable services.
Health improvement
Speaking on infrastructure development, Ms Balarabe said Kaduna State has been strengthening its primary healthcare system by upgrading facilities, increasing its ambulance fleet and implementing digital monitoring and tracking systems.
She explained that the state has recruited and trained 1,800 healthcare workers and forged partnerships with organisations, including the Gates Foundation, to expand financing and improve service delivery in rural communities.
Regarding maternal and newborn health, she acknowledged that Kaduna has yet to achieve a breakthrough in reducing maternal mortality. However, she noted progress in neonatal outcomes and said the government is focused on improving emergency support for pregnant women.
“We cannot continue to have children while mothers are lost,” she said, emphasising the government’s efforts to build a stronger referral system and expand access to high-quality maternal and child health services.
What the reports say
Despite the assurances presented by Kaduna State at the dialogue, PREMIUM TIMES reports published between 2023 and 2025 reveal persistent weaknesses across the state’s health sector.
In March 2025, the Kaduna government approved the recruitment of 1,800 health workers and promised upgrades across 255 primary healthcare centres, insisting that the reforms would strengthen rural service delivery.
Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES’ reporting shows that key challenges remain unaddressed.
A July 2025 investigative report revealed that a preventable diphtheria outbreak killed children in several Kaduna communities due to failures in routine immunisation and poor cold-chain maintenance.
Many PHCs lacked essential vaccines, admission capacity and follow-up mechanisms, conditions that contradict the state’s claims of a strengthened PHC system.
Another July 2025 report documented a diarrhoea outbreak affecting 81 students at a secondary school in Kaduna. Although the Ministry of Health intervened, the incident highlighted gaps in preventive care, water safety and surveillance systems, raising additional concerns about the effectiveness of PHCs in the state.
Workforce instability has also been a recurring problem. In June 2025, resident doctors protested the dismissal of colleagues at a major state hospital, describing the decision as unfair and indicative of broader labour tensions.
The doctors cited inadequate training oversight and staffing shortages, which contradict government claims of improved workforce capacity.
By August 2025, resident doctors issued a 12-day ultimatum to the government, demanding the implementation of the 2024 salary adjustment, payment of arrears and better working conditions.
They warned that sustained burnout and the migration of clinicians to other states and federal institutions were crippling service delivery.
Taken together, the reports suggest that despite increased budgetary allocation and policy commitments, Kaduna’s health system continues to face significant gaps in immunisation, disease surveillance, emergency response and workforce stability.
These inconsistencies raise questions about whether the reforms outlined by the state are translating into meaningful improvements for communities.
About National Health Dialogue
The 2025 National Health Dialogue, organised by PREMIUM TIMES in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), was supported by the Gates Foundation.
The dialogue was themed “Evidence, Innovation, and Financing for a Healthier Nigeria.”
The dialogue brought together policymakers, health experts, civil society groups and innovators for a full-day discussion on the state of Nigeria’s health sector.
Read The Full Article Here Now
👉 Are You A WhatsApp User? Do You Want To Get Our News As Fast As Possible On Daily Basis? 👉 Click This Link To Join WhatsApp Channel Now.
Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
Breaking News
Oyo police intercepts truck conveuing explosives in Saki
The Oyo State Police Command has announced an operational success recorded following an intelligence-led operation.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command intercepted a truck conveying materials suspected to be explosive devices during a stop-and-search operation in Saki, Oyo State. The truck and the suspected materials were promptly secured and are currently in police custody.
Upon receiving a briefing on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Consequently, specialised personnel of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit were deployed to safely secure the items for safekeeping and forensic examination. Detailed forensic analysis has since commenced, alongside a thorough and robust investigation to determine the exact nature of the items and their intended use.
The truck driver has been taken into custody and is cooperating fully with investigators as efforts continue to unravel all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commissioner of Police commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for his unwavering support, strategic leadership, and continued provision of operational guidance that enhance proactive, intelligence-driven policing across the country.
Read The Full Article Here Now
👉 Are You A WhatsApp User? Do You Want To Get Our News As Fast As Possible On Daily Basis? 👉 Click This Link To Join WhatsApp Channel Now.
Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
Breaking News
Benue: Armed bandits kill motorcyclist, injure woman in Apa LGA
One person has died and another sustained injuries following an assault by suspected armed bandits in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
According to sources, the attack took place on January 24 around 4:00 p.m. along the Amoke–Odugbo road in Ukpogo Village, Edikwu Ward.
The victims, identified as Mr Joseph Okoh and Miss Aneh Sunday, both from Ogodumo, Adoka in Otukpo LGA, were reportedly riding a motorcycle when the assailants struck.
“They were rushed to the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ugbokpo, where Mr Okoh was confirmed dead while receiving treatment. Miss Sunday is currently admitted and responding to treatment,” the source stated.
Nigerian troops were quickly deployed to the area, and a search operation in the surrounding bushes is ongoing to apprehend the attackers.
“The Criminal Investigation Department has commenced an investigation into the incident,” the source added.
Read The Full Article Here Now
👉 Are You A WhatsApp User? Do You Want To Get Our News As Fast As Possible On Daily Basis? 👉 Click This Link To Join WhatsApp Channel Now.
Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
Breaking News
2026 UTME: JAMB scraps special privileges for albino candidates over malpractices
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has scrapped special concessions and registration procedures previously granted to candidates with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, citing abuse of the privilege to perpetrate examination malpractice.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The Board also warned faith-based tertiary institutions to clearly declare their religious status at the point of admission, saying it is deceptive to present as secular and later impose religious rules on students.
As reported by Vanguard, these decisions were taken on Saturday at a meeting between JAMB management, led by its Registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, and Commissioners for Education from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Oloyede said the meeting was convened to review and assess previous admission exercises.
He noted that despite safeguards introduced by the Board, some individuals remained determined to circumvent the system.
“We have stopped some concessions we gave albino candidates. This is because some are using artificial intelligence to manipulate the registration process to look like they are albinos because of the consideration we gave them.
“Last year alone, over 7,000 claimed to be albinos. We have stopped special registration procedures for albinos,” he said.
Addressing complaints from candidates admitted into some private institutions over compulsory religious instruction, Oloyede urged faith-based schools to be transparent.
“Faith-based institutions should declare from the onset what they are, so that whoever applies there will know what he is going to meet there. But some don’t do that. They will pretend to be secular, but once students are admitted, trouble will begin over religious instruction and injunctions.
“If you are a faith-based institution, say so. The law allows you to set up faith-based schools,” he said.
On last year’s UTME, where the highest-scoring candidate was later found to be a 300-level university student, the JAMB registrar said investigations showed that some undergraduates sit for the examination to change courses or assist others to secure admission.
“Students who are already in school but want to change courses and are applying again must declare and disclose their status.
“We have found that some candidates already in school are writing the examination for other candidates. Last year, the candidate who scored the highest was found to be a 300-level student in the university.
“Henceforth, any candidate found engaging in such an act, and who fails to disclose that he is already in school but wants to change course, will be disqualified and will also lose his current admission,” he said.
On admission criteria, Oloyede explained that federal government-owned institutions allocate 45 per cent on merit, 20 per cent on catchment area, 20 per cent to educationally disadvantaged states, while the remaining slots are allocated to other considerations.
“Each owner or state has the right to decide what its admission criteria will be. But for states, we encourage them to allocate at least 10 per cent to merit, regardless of where the candidates come from.
“This is to diversify the student population and admit eggheads from different communities,” he said.
He criticised some states for establishing new universities despite not fully utilising their admission quotas in existing federal institutions.
On underage candidates, Oloyede said 16 years remained the minimum admission age, noting that an attestation process was in place for exceptional cases.
“Last year, about 42,000 claimed to be underage. After evaluation, only 78 met the criteria and were admitted. We are not saying there are no talented candidates, but the figure looks outlandish,” he said.
The issue of how to engage underage candidates during a gap year divided opinions at the meeting, but a majority voted for JAMB to continue its special assessment process.
The meeting also observed that parental pressure on children to complete their education too quickly was a major contributor to the problem.
On efforts to curb examination malpractice, Oloyede said JAMB had stopped the movement of computers between Computer-Based Test centres.
“A computer registered in a particular centre will remain there and is not transferable to another centre. Some people borrow computers to get accredited and later move them around,” he said.
He dismissed claims that candidates were posted to towns they did not choose, saying personal data used for registration were drawn directly from the National Identification Number submitted by candidates.
Providing an update on the 2025 UTME, Oloyede said 974,855 candidates had so far been admitted out of about 1.95 million who sat for the examination.
He added that over N2.4 billion had been disbursed to institutions that consistently complied with JAMB’s rules over the past 10 years, and that the meeting agreed that schools producing the best candidates should be compensated.
On accreditation of CBT centres, Oloyede said the process involved teams comprising university vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts in each state.
He warned state governments against agreements with private promoters who might use centres to facilitate malpractice.
Read The Full Article Here Now
👉 Are You A WhatsApp User? Do You Want To Get Our News As Fast As Possible On Daily Basis? 👉 Click This Link To Join WhatsApp Channel Now.
Art & Commercial students don’t fail JAMB because they’re dull. They fail because they’re taught like Science students. Science students calculate — JAMB rewards that. Art students explain — JAMB doesn’t. So you read hard, attend lessons, yet your score disappoints you. This online class fixes that. No theory overload. No confusion. Just real JAMB questions, clear breakdowns, and winning strategies. 📌 JAMB is not hard — you were just taught the wrong way.Click The Link To Reach Us Now 👉 https://wa.me/2349063958940
-
Breaking News5 months agoWorld’s Youngest Undergraduate is Nigerian JOSHUA BECKFORD, gained admission in Oxford University at the age of Six years
-
Breaking News3 months agoJUST IN: Finally United States President Donald Trump Revokes 80,000 Visas of Nigerians, Other Foreign Nationals
-
Breaking News5 months agoBREAKING NEWS: Woman in Trouble For Burning 7-year-old Girl’s Private Parts With Hot Knife
-
Breaking News5 months agoBREAKING NEWS: FULL DETAILS! Top Secret Leaked Why SIM Fubara Fails to Return to Government House After Reinstatement
-
Breaking News3 months agoBREAKING NEWS: Nigerian Billionaire Lawmaker Ned Nwoko, Orders Arrest of His Mother In Law Regina Daniels’ Mother, Rita
-
Breaking News4 months agoBREAKING NEWS: Federal Government Releases Proof of N25,000 Cash Transfers to 71 Million Nigerians in 8.1 Million Households
-
Breaking News5 months agoBREAKING NEWS: Another Rivers Saga: Just Reinstated Fubara Told to Sack All Sole Administrators Appointees, Seek Tinubu’s Assurance Over Impeachment
-
Breaking News5 months agoBREAKING NEWS: Finally Department of State Services (DSS) summons Sowore over post on Tinubu
