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Nigerian Nurses in Crisis: Government Portal Shutdown Forces Professionals Back Home
Nigerian Nurses in Crisis: Government Portal Shutdown Forces Professionals Back Home....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The abrupt shutdown of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s (NMCN) verification portal in February has left many Nigerian nurses and midwives working in the United Kingdom and the United States in distress. This sudden closure has forced these healthcare professionals to return to Nigeria, struggling to renew their licenses and meet international regulatory requirements.
With the NMCN portal inaccessible, numerous nurses find themselves unable to secure the essential verification needed for their practice. As a result, many are inadvertently breaching visa conditions and employment laws, leading to significant legal challenges. Reports from The PUNCH highlight that a considerable number of nurses, especially in the UK and the US, have been compelled to return home due to these issues.
One nurse, who chose to remain anonymous, shared his harrowing experience. After relocating to the UK in September 2023 to join a prestigious healthcare organization, he had successfully passed various exams and completed necessary documentation, with only the NMCN portal verification pending for his registration pin. Unfortunately, the portal’s closure dashed his hopes, leading to the termination of his employment due to his failure to meet certification requirements. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue with the NMCN, including proposing alternative solutions, he found no resolution. His frustration was palpable: “The situation is not only saddening but also suicidal. My career is stagnated.”
Another nurse, Ovie, currently residing in the UK, echoed similar sentiments. She had moved to pursue a nursing top-up program, but the portal’s closure hindered her ability to complete the verification process. As her student visa nears expiration, she faces uncertainty and the looming threat of deportation, leaving her future in jeopardy.
The crisis extends beyond the UK, affecting Nigerian nurses globally. Hannah, a nurse in Saudi Arabia, expressed her despair as she navigates an uncertain future since relocating in 2023 to practice nursing. The risk of deportation looms large, compounding her anxiety.
Michael Nnachi, President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. He indicated that the association has been in discussions with the government to address the matter, forming a committee to review the challenges faced by nurses. While he remains hopeful for a resolution, he urged affected members to exercise patience, highlighting past instances where government promises failed to materialize.
Abubakar Shehu, the Deputy National President of the association, criticized the government’s handling of the portal’s closure. He pointed out that other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and pharmacists, have not faced the same hurdles as nurses, exacerbating the sense of frustration within the nursing community.
Despite assurances from the NMCN registrar that the portal would soon reopen, Shehu stressed the adverse impact of the closure on Nigerian nurses seeking opportunities abroad. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the NMCN verification process has far-reaching implications, subjecting many Nigerian nurses to legal, financial, and emotional challenges as they await the portal’s reopening.
Former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has accused Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North in the National Assembly, of misleading his constituents over the proposed creation of Anioma State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that Okowa made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at a meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Oshimili South Local Government Area. The gathering is part of ongoing consultations linked to his 2027 Senate ambition.
Okowa said that contrary to Nwoko’s position, people of Delta North actually support the creation of Anioma State within the South-South geopolitical zone, with Asaba as its capital, rather than aligning it with the South-East.
He criticised Nwoko’s approach, describing the push as misleading and poorly thought out, while recalling the role of an Asaba indigene who fought for the city to become the capital of Delta State.
According to him, the current agitation for Anioma State has been handled in a unilateral manner, without proper consultation with the wider population.
Okowa stressed that such a major political demand should not be driven by individual interests, insisting that collective agreement is necessary.
He argued that leaders must remain connected to their people and consider majority opinion, warning against decisions taken without broad consultation.
He also noted that the process of creating new states is not currently at a critical stage in the legislative timetable, suggesting that the agitation at this time may be misplaced.
Okowa maintained that the push for Anioma State should remain a collective aspiration, adding that when the time eventually comes, it should reflect the genuine will of the people of the area.
The trial of Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, was on Tuesday delayed at the Federal High Court in Abuja after his newly appointed defence counsel sought an adjournment.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
At the resumed hearing before Justice James Omotosho, defence counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN), informed the court that he was only recently briefed on the matter and required time to properly study the case file.
He explained that the prosecution had already been informed of the development and pleaded for an adjournment to allow adequate preparation for the defence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Bello, who currently serves as Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo.
He is standing trial alongside Dauda Sulaiman on an amended 16-count charge involving alleged misappropriation and money laundering of about ₦10.27 billion.
However, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), objected to the adjournment request, arguing that proper legal procedure under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, was not followed.
He stated that the previous defence counsel, A.M. Aliyu (SAN), ought to have formally notified the court in advance regarding the change of counsel.
Despite the objection, Justice Omotosho granted the request in the interest of fair hearing.
The case was subsequently adjourned to May 5 and May 6, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Bello and his co-defendant are accused of involvement in the alleged diversion of public funds running into billions of naira through questionable financial transactions, a case that has continued to attract public attention due to its political implications.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received a delegation of stakeholders from Enugu State at the State House in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The delegation was led by the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, during a high-level engagement focused on development priorities in the state and the wider South-East region.
During the meeting, President Tinubu assured the stakeholders of continued federal attention to key infrastructure challenges, particularly in transport and power.
Addressing the delegation, he noted that major projects such as the Port Harcourt–Enugu rail line, ongoing power sector reforms, and other critical infrastructure needed for economic growth would receive greater attention from his administration.
Governor Mbah recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that has continued to generate political reactions.
Meanwhile, the PDP has reacted to the wave of defections from its ranks to the APC, saying the affected governors and political leaders would soon regret their decisions.
The opposition party made the comment after the APC ruled out automatic tickets for defecting governors.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, accused the defectors of acting out of personal interest rather than the welfare of citizens, adding that their actions were not surprising.
He further stated that the APC does not truly value its members and described the situation as the beginning of regret for those who left the PDP.
Several governors, including those from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Enugu, Taraba, Rivers, and Kano States, alongside lawmakers and other political figures, have recently moved from the PDP to the APC.
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