By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

The Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Aniekan Peters, says about 75% of newly qualified doctors leave Nigeria within two years of graduation, citing poor remuneration and working conditions as major reasons for the trend.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo during activities marking the association’s Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, Peters called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to establish at least seven medical training institutions to help address shortages of healthcare professionals. He said the migration of doctors, often referred to as the “Japa” phenomenon, has made it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain medical personnel in the state.

According to Peters, doctors earning about ₦400,000 monthly in Nigeria can earn significantly more abroad. He said the NMA is proposing a 2,000% increase in doctors’ wages in the state to improve retention.Peters also noted that recent recruitment exercises failed to fill approved vacancies. He said only about 50 doctors were recruited despite approval for 400 positions, while authorities also struggled to recruit 700 nurses until entry requirements were adjusted.

He commended Governor Umo Eno for approving a medical school at Akwa Ibom State University but argued that more institutions are needed. Peters said the state should expand medical education by upgrading existing health facilities, including the General Hospitals in Ikot Ekpene and Eket, as well as the Ibom Specialist Hospital, into medical training centres.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum made an unscheduled stop during a visit to a resettled community, purchasing groundnuts from an elderly roadside trader in what his aide described as a reflection of the state’s ongoing recovery efforts.

According to the Governor’s Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, the incident occurred on Sunday as the governor’s convoy was returning from a resettlement community.

Bundi said the convoy unexpectedly stopped at a village market, where the governor bought peanuts from an elderly woman identified as “Kaka Fanna,” a pseudonym used to protect her identity. He said the village, once deserted following attacks by insurgents, has gradually returned to normal, with residents resuming farming, trading, and other economic activities.

Bundi also stated that since 2019, the Zulum administration has supported the return of more than two million displaced persons to their communities. He added that thousands of refugees who fled to Niger, Chad, and Cameroon have been repatriated and resettled, while several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been closed as families returned home.

According to Bundi, the governor’s brief stop symbolised the progress made in rebuilding communities affected by insurgency and highlighted Zulum’s approach to engaging directly with residents during official visits.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Security operatives have arrested a wanted suspect alleged to have worked as an intelligence operative for Boko Haram in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State, as part of ongoing investigations into the recent attack on Cross Kauwa.

According to intelligence sources, the suspect, identified as Abulfatahi, was arrested on July 27 during an intelligence-led operation targeting an alleged terrorist intelligence network operating in the area.The sources said two other suspected members of the network had earlier been arrested and transferred to the Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre (JIFC) for further investigation.

During preliminary interrogation, Abulfatahi allegedly admitted to working for a Boko Haram commander identified as Akilu, who security sources claim oversees the group’s activities in Dabar Masara and Garin Mace.

According to the sources, the suspect also allegedly confessed to collecting taxes on behalf of the commander and helping to identify individuals for abduction around Monguno.Investigators reportedly recovered two telephone numbers allegedly linked to the suspected commander from the suspect’s mobile phone. The information is being examined as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the network.

Security sources said investigations are continuing to identify other suspected collaborators, determine the full scope of the network’s activities, and support counter-terrorism operations in the Lake Chad region. They added that a comprehensive investigation report will be prepared after the inquiry is concluded.