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General News

Top Services Rendered By “Quack” Doctors in Nigeria Revealed

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Prof. C.O Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health
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Latest weekly poll results released by NOIPolls Limited have revealed that about 2 in 10 Nigerians (24%) may have directly or indirectly been victims of quack or sub-standard medical practitioners.

The poll also identified Typhoid and Malaria Fever as the most prevalent ailments for which majority of the patients (50%) have been treated for by sub-standard medical practitioners, followed by pregnancy and childbirth (11%).

Furthermore, respondents were of the opinion that the health condition of victims became worse after treatment. These were the key findings from the Sub-standard or Quack Medical Practitioners in Nigeria Snap Poll conducted in the week of January 13th 2014.

The researchers said that recent media reports in Nigeria have observed an upsurge in the prevalence of sub-standard or quack medical practitioners, with attendant effects on the physical wellbeing of the populace and life expectancy of the average Nigerian.

“In 2013 alone, there were several reports of arrests made by the Nigerian Police Force in various states, especially in Lagos state. For instance, the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had the police arrest 12 quack medical doctors and also had illegal hospitals in the state shut down. Similarly, several hospitals in Lagos have been closed down for practicing without medical licenses. Other cases include that of Gabriel Onyema and Stephen Nwankwo, who were arrested for causing the deaths of a number of pregnant women, while performing illegal surgical procedures in Lagos,” the NOIPolls said.

Despite annual budgetary allocations to the health sector by various levels of government, the sector still grapples with several challenges: poor funding of the health sector; quality of graduates emanating from medical schools; deplorable conditions of health facilities & infrastructure; and poor remuneration and emoluments for medical workers, all these resulting in incessant strikes and labour actions, giving rise to the illegal practice of medicine in the country by individuals.

In the light of these, NOIPolls conducted its latest poll on the prevalence of sub-standard/quack medical practitioners in Nigeria; in order to gauge the perception of Nigerians regarding their knowledge of the existence of quack medical practitioners and effects on the country’s health sector.

Respondents to the poll were asked five specific questions. Firstly, in order to establish the awareness of the prevalence of sub-standard and quack medical practitioners in Nigeria, respondents who had an understanding of quackery were asked:  Are you aware of the growing prevalence of sub-standard or quack medical practitioners in Nigeria? Overall, majority (79%) of the respondents answered positively to being aware of the growing prevalence of sub-standard or medical practitioners in Nigerian, while 21% of Nigerians responded negatively.

Further analysis, by geo-political zones, indicates that the North-West zone (92%) had the highest proportions of respondents that showed an awareness of the rising prevalence of quack medical practitioners, followed by the North-East zone with 88% and the South-West zone with 83%.

Furthermore, in order to gauge the understanding of Nigerians regarding who really is a sub-standard or quack medical practitioner, respondents were asked: Who is a sub-standard or quack medical practitioner?

Findings revealed that Nigerians have various perceptions on the concept of Quackery, giving a variety of definitions on who is a sub-standard or quack medical practitioner.

Majority (44%) of the respondents, have an understanding that sub-standard or quack medical practitioners are “practitioners with incomplete qualifications”; while 35% of respondents believe they are “individuals that pretend to have medical knowledge”’. 

Furthermore, 8% say they are ‘individuals that use unproven and unscientific remedies’; 2% say they are ‘student practitioners’; and another 2% say they are ‘Native Doctors’. However, about 8% of those polled do not have a definitive idea about quack medical practitioners.

Analysis based on geo-political zones revealed that the North-Central zone (52%) had the highest proportion of Nigerians who define quackery as “practitioners with incomplete qualifications”, while the South-West zone (45%) accounted for the largest proportion of Nigerians (45%) that believe quack medical practitioners are “individuals that pretend to have medical knowledge,” according to result of the survey.

                      


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General News

Nigerian Military Makes History with Africa’s First Attack Drones, Bombs

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Nigerian Military, in partnership with Briech UAS, a communications company, has unveiled the first and largest indigenous attack drones and bombs in Nigeria and Africa.

Nigerian Military Makes History with Africa’s First Attack Drones, Bombs

Briech UAS, alongside the Nigerian Army, demonstrated these attack drones and bombs at the company’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

General Christopher Musa, chief of Defence Staff (CDS), hailed the initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s progress toward self-reliance in defence technology and a crucial step in enhancing national security.

Musa highlighted the importance of developing combat drones, particularly for intelligence gathering. He pointed out that these drones would play a pivotal role in addressing complex and asymmetric security threats.

“These force multipliers will greatly enhance the operational effectiveness of our military, especially in a world where global politics complicate the procurement of advanced military hardware,” he stated.

“Countries that do not produce these solutions face bureaucratic and diplomatic challenges when acquiring essential platforms. We are directly addressing this challenge.

“If we do not produce what we need, we will be at the mercy of others, even if we have the financial resources to acquire them.

“By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces dependence on foreign resources, ensures faster acquisition, and strengthens its ability to respond to security threats swiftly.

“With the brilliant minds we have, particularly among our youth, we can create outstanding technology that competes on a global scale,” Musa said.

Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang underlined the importance of supporting indigenous products for Nigeria’s growth.

He stressed that the drones would be vital in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, particularly in Plateau State, where some of these technologies have already been deployed to enhance the efficiency of ground forces.

Mutfwang also revealed that his state was collaborating with local bomb and drone manufacturers like Briech UAS to counter insurgency with domestically produced weapons.

“As a nation, we made a mistake by allowing non-state actors to acquire capabilities nearly on par with state actors,” he stated.

“We’ve entered into a partnership that has led to the deployment of these facilities in our state. We’ve seen substantial improvements in the effectiveness of our security forces.

“It was a mistake to let non-state actors gather capabilities that could almost overpower legitimate state forces. We must correct that imbalance.

“We must ensure no one within our borders has capabilities that surpass or match those responsible for protecting our national sovereignty,” he added.

Earlier, Dr Bright Echefu, chairman of Briech UAS, noted that insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have been using commercial drones for reconnaissance and attacks.

“These drones have been used to track and attack our troops, coordinating ambushes and executing crude aerial strikes,” he said.


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General News

FG Trains 49 Persons with Disabilities in IT Skills

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David Daser, president and CEO, DBI,
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Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), has trained and graduated 49 persons with disabilities (PWDs) from a nine-month IT programme aimed at bridging Nigeria’s digital divide.

FG Trains 49 Persons with Disabilities in IT Skills

The graduates, comprising 24 from DBI’s Lagos campus and 25 from its Kano campus, acquired industry-recognized certifications and essential digital skills to enhance their participation in the tech sector.

The IT Bridge Academy, a federal government initiative designed to support PWDs, provides specialized training to help them access opportunities in the modern digital economy.

The programme was implemented in partnership with Sightsavers International and is only the second of its kind in Africa, after a similar initiative in Kenya.

At the Lagos graduation ceremony, David Daser, president and CEO, DBI, represented by Viola Askia-Usoro, institute’s head of special duties, described the initiative as a major step towards digital inclusion.

“This academy is not just about education; it’s about creating opportunities for PWDs to realize their full potential,” he stated, highlighting the programme’s role in tackling stigma, discrimination, and limited access to training.

Daser urged the graduates to advocate for digital accessibility and called on public and private sector stakeholders to support inclusive initiatives that empower PWDs in Nigeria’s technology space.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, cohort 2 class governor Amos Adegboyega acknowledged the challenges they faced during the programme and expressed gratitude for the support received, saying, “There are abilities in disability, and this training has given us the confidence to achieve our dreams.”


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General News

Airbnb Community Fund Donates ₦13 Billion to Nonprofits Worldwide

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In a bid to strengthen communities worldwide, Airbnb has announced the recipients of its annual Community Fund grants for 2025. This year, the initiative will distribute over ₦13 billion ($8.5 million USD) to more than 160 nonprofits across 30 countries globally.

Among the beneficiaries are six organisations in Africa, where efforts focus on economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and combating abuse and exploitation.

Launched in 2020, the Airbnb Community Fund is a ₦153 billion ($100 million USD) initiative aimed at directly supporting communities and residents globally. By 2030, the Fund is projected to disburse its full ₦153 billion commitment.

Each year, Airbnb collaborates with local hosts to nominate and select nonprofit organisations for funding. Hosts act as key contributors, leveraging their deep understanding of community needs to guide impactful donations.

African Recipients Leading Change

This year, funding was allocated to nonprofits tackling pressing social issues. Among the African beneficiaries are:

Digify Africa, South Africa: Empowering young people with digital skills for economic growth.

AfriLabs, Nigeria: Supporting entrepreneurs with funding and networks for scaling businesses.

Children of Africa, Kenya: Advocating for vocational training and education for underprivileged girls.

Global Give Back Circle, Kenya: Providing vulnerable girls and young women with opportunities for transformative community impact.

Qhakaza Mohare, Chief Operating Officer of Digify Africa, praised Airbnb’s contribution, emphasizing its role in expanding initiatives and creating sustainable impacts in underserved communities.

Global Impact

To date, the Airbnb Community Fund has distributed over ₦55 billion ($36 million USD) to nonprofits in nearly 70 countries, with hosts driving much of its success.


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