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 Mass exodus of Doctors hobbles operations at Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, patients stranded

Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital

By Obiagulu Agu

The National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) is barely limping along, as it contends with the exodus of a large volume of its personnel for better working conditions outside Nigeria.In recent years, Nigeria’s health sector has suffered and continues to suffer, from huge depletion of critical manpower fleeing abroad for more attractive conditions of service. The trend has been labelled japa syndrome in local Nigerian parlance.

Checks revealed that NOHIL is particularly hit by japa syndrome; its operations are greatly hobbled by an acute shortage of personnel across many of the departments and units. At the premier orthopaedic institution, which serves as a centre of the World Health Organisation (WHO), patients, who do not make the cut for the day’s booking to be registered as fresh patients or for such procedures as X-ray or physiotherapy or be attended to by doctors, routinely resort to passing nights within complex at the mercy of the elements.

Patients and their relatives or other caregivers, according to findings, opt for such arduous nights in the open as an effective strategy for minimising logistical expenditures and other costs of booking the names of patients early enough for their various appointments.

It was learnt that the worst-hit by acute personnel shortages is the Radiology Unit, which, as early as 7:00 AM attains its daily count of 20 patients booking for X-ray, as any or all other persons reporting after that figure are firmly ordered to try out another day and subsequently dismissed.
It was observed, however, that staff of the hospital also indiscriminately smuggled in names of persons favoured based on familial or pecuniary relationships for X-ray services at the Radiology Unit.

There is also an X-ray centre operated beside that of the hospital’s by a private sector service provider, Crestview Radiology Limited, which was recently overwhelmed by huge demand when NOHIL’s X-ray machine broke down.
Notably, patients can only be attended to at the Crestview X-ray centre strictly based on request forms referrals endorsed by NOHIL doctors.

It was gathered that, in order to ensure that each of their patients get adequate care, physiotherapists at the Physiotherapy Unit have resorted to keeping the maximum number of patients they attend to daily at below 10.

Speaking under anonymity, a female outpatient, who is a resident of Ijoko in neighbouring Ogun State,  lamented that she had suffered several misses while seeking to have her initial X-ray session. She confessed with a hint of a victorious smile that she was only able to have that initial x-ray, having risen and reported at the Radiology Unit at 4:30 AM after she joined many others  who did same in passing the night along the hospital’s corridors.

She disclosed that she had adopted the same strategy of sleeping over at the hospital in order to successfully keep up with the appointments for other X-rays and her physiotherapy sessions.
Explaining that bills for the various hospital services were high and already draining her purse, she noted that her finances, in the prevailing harsh economic conditions in Nigeria, had been dealt additional blows  because she, until she settled for sleepovers at the hospital, been expending so much on transportation to cover all what turned out to be fruitless trips between her Ijoko, Ogun State residence and NOHIL.

Affirming to have eased so much of the stress on her purse by passing nights at the hospital in order to meet appointments next mornings the woman said that she was actively passing on the very beneficial advise that someone offered her for others to follow to access services at the hospital more promptly while keeping their costs in check.

Several other outpatients, all under anonymity, had spoken in a similar vein of resorting to passing nights at NOHIL in order to cut costs in accessing services promptly.
Located along the arterial Ikorodu Road, NOHIL, which is projected to accommodate 450 patients, reportedly had started as a Military Rehabilitation Camp for prisoners of war returning from the Second World War.

Following the recognition by the Colonial Medical Services in 1945, the institution had become a medical establishment known as Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital.
NOHIL had undergone a number of name changes, including from Igbobi Hospital to Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and onto its current name.
At various times between 1945 and 1977, the institution had come under the administration of the Federal Government and Lagos State Government. Since 1977 to date, however, the hospital has remained a Federal Government health institution.

In its “early days,” according to website of NOHIL, “the sphere of influence of the hospital extended to other parts of the West African sub-region, Central Africa and Angola.”
The hospital further stated that the facility was a repository of materials and resources for students during the same period.

In the present times, except the Federal Government takes urgent remediation steps to arrest the exodus of NOHIL’s personnel for greener pastures abroad, the hospital may very soon be rendered comatose.

Checks confirmed that the japa syndrome does not only cast a pallor on the bragging rights of NOHIL to the tag of “premier health institution”, but also poses an existential threat to the hospital.

Mr Agu is a maritime journalist and an out- patient at National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos
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Headlines

As NRC recovers ₦200m stolen railway assets, Opeifa vows diligent prosecution of suspects

— assures sustained collaboration with security agencies 

 Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to protecting railway infrastructure through sustained collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, following the recovery of stolen railway materials valued at about ₦200 million.

Dr. Opeifa gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola, at the Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

The NRC boss, who was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Railway Police Command, CP Lasisi Titilola, stressed that the Corporation would ensure the diligent prosecution of all suspects arrested for vandalising railway facilities to serve as a strong deterrent against future acts of sabotage.

He praised the Oyo State Police Command and the Nigeria Railway Police Command for their professionalism and swift response, which led to the arrest of three suspected railway vandals and the recovery of railway materials worth approximately ₦200 million.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation while allegedly transporting vandalised railway materials from Niger State to Lagos.

Describing the operation as a significant breakthrough in the fight against railway vandalism, Dr. Opeifa said it underscored the effectiveness of the growing partnership between the NRC and security agencies in safeguarding critical national infrastructure.

He reiterated the Corporation’s resolve to deepen collaboration with the Police, other security agencies, state governments, host communities and relevant stakeholders to curb vandalism, theft and other criminal activities capable of disrupting railway operations across the country.

The NRC Managing Director also appealed to members of the public to support the campaign against railway vandalism by providing credible and timely information to security agencies.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation remains committed to delivering safe, reliable and sustainable rail transportation while working closely with security agencies and other stakeholders to protect the nation’s railway infrastructure,” Dr. Opeifa said.
In his response, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Olugbenga Ayodeji Abimbola, called on the National Assembly to strengthen existing laws protecting critical national infrastructure by prescribing stiffer penalties for vandals.
He warned criminals to steer clear of Oyo State, assuring that the Command would continue to track, arrest and prosecute anyone involved in the destruction or theft of public assets.
CP Abimbola disclosed that the three suspects, along with the recovered railway materials, would be handed over to the Nigeria Railway Police Command for further investigation and prosecution.

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NSC marks 31 years of maritime judicial capacity building with 18th international seminar for Judges

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter 

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will commemorate 31 years of judicial capacity development in Nigeria’s maritime sector as it hosts the 18th International Maritime Seminar for Judges from July 22 to 24, 2026, in Abuja.

The biennial seminar, organised in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), will take place at the Ballroom of the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.

Established in 1995, the International Maritime Seminar for Judges has become Nigeria’s foremost judicial capacity-building programme in maritime law and admiralty practice, providing a platform for strengthening the administration of maritime justice and aligning the country’s legal framework with evolving global standards.

This year’s edition is expected to bring together senior judicial officers, maritime law experts, policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders from Nigeria and across Africa to deliberate on contemporary legal issues affecting the maritime industry.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, will chair the event, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, will serve as the Chief Host.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is the Host of the seminar.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will attend as the Distinguished Guest of Honour, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, will participate as the Special Guest of Honour.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), will grace the occasion as the Guest of Honour.

The seminar is designed to enhance the capacity of judges and legal practitioners in maritime adjudication, promote consistency in judicial decisions and strengthen the legal environment required to facilitate international trade, attract investment and support the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Participants will examine a wide range of emerging issues in maritime law through presentations by distinguished jurists, renowned maritime lawyers, academics and international experts.

Key discussion areas include the implementation of the Admiralty Jurisdiction (Procedure) Rules, 2023, ship mortgages and judicial sale of ships, maritime cargo claims under the port concession regime, arbitration and hybrid dispute resolution mechanisms, as well as the legal implications of demurrage, detention and storage charges in international shipping.

The seminar will also explore how Nigeria’s maritime dispute resolution system can be better aligned with international best practices to improve investor confidence and enhance the competitiveness of the country’s maritime sector.

In a demonstration of its growing continental relevance, the event is expected to attract Chief Justices from The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone, alongside judges from their respective judiciaries.

Also expected are Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Judges of the Federal and State High Courts, legal advisers, in-house counsel, maritime practitioners, academics, regulators and other stakeholders from across the maritime industry.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council said the seminar underscores its enduring commitment to strengthening maritime justice through continuous judicial engagement, knowledge sharing and the development of a robust legal framework capable of supporting efficient dispute resolution, facilitating trade and advancing Nigeria’s marine and blue economy agenda.

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Customs

Customs puts smiles on faces of 4,237 retirees as Adeniyi releases N7.61bn to 9 PFAs for payment

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disbursed N7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the payment of retirement benefits to 4,237 retired Customs officers, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of its former personnel.

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a dialogue with retired officers held on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026, where he announced that the funds had already been released to the PFAs for immediate credit to the retirees’ individual Retirement Savings Accounts.

According to the beneficiary breakdown, Premium Pension has the highest number of beneficiaries with 2,268 retirees, followed by Access-ARM Pension Managers with 1,223.

Leadway Pensions will pay 403 retirees, TrustFund Pensions 156, FCMB Pensions 144, Veritas Glanvills Pensions 28, Norrenberger Pensions 11, while Fidelity Pension Managers will pay four retirees, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 4,237.

Addressing the retirees, Adeniyi stressed that the Customs Service remains committed to ensuring the welfare of both serving and retired officers, noting that the institution’s future is closely tied to how it treats those who devoted their careers to its service.

He said the Service must remain financially strong and capable of meeting its obligations, emphasizing that retirees deserve dignity and timely access to their benefits.

The CGC also called for sustained engagement between the Service and its retirees, explaining that the dialogue was convened to address concerns, foster mutual understanding, and dispel misinformation.

“I acknowledge your concerns and suggestions, and it is in view of this that we convened this dialogue to promote better understanding and reduce the effect of rumours and unofficial information on the relationship between the Service and its retired personnel,” Adeniyi said.

Also present at the meeting were the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, DCG Tijjani Abe, and other members of the Customs Management Team, who assured the retirees that the issues raised would receive due consideration at both the Board and Management levels.

The retired officers commended the Comptroller-General and the Management for creating a platform for direct interaction, describing the engagement as timely and beneficial.

They appealed for the dialogue to become a regular feature to strengthen the bond between the Service and its retired workforce.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of ongoing Federal Government efforts to improve pension administration, following plans to review relevant statutory provisions, including Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, in line with Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), with the aim of enhancing the welfare of pensioners across the public service.

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