42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate - WHO - Newstrends
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42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate – WHO

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42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised an alarm as 42 per cent of nurses in Africa reported intentions to emigrate, posing a significant threat to the region’s already strained healthcare workforce.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the acting WHO regional director for Africa, issued the warning in his message on Saturday, marking International Nurses Day.

Mr Ihekweazu highlighted that while the global nursing workforce had increased to 29.8 million, up from around 28 million in 2018, there were concerning disparities.

“Nearly 80 per cent of nurses serve only 49 per cent of the world’s population, underscoring severe inequities in healthcare delivery.

“Today, on International Nurses Day, we honour the commitment, compassion, and courage of nurses across Africa and the world.

“Nurses represent nearly 70 per cent of the health workforce and are the foundation of our health systems, essential every day and indispensable in times of crisis,” Mr Ihekweazu said.

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Mr Ihekweazu pointed out that while recent investments in nursing education and training in Africa had shown positive results, the number of nurses had increased from 900,000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023.

“This growth is a testament to the efforts made to improve healthcare staffing on the continent. However, in spite of these advancements, the nurse-to-population ratio remains one of the lowest globally, significantly lower than in high-income countries.

“This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing healthcare workforce shortages in Africa. Yet, this is still one of the lowest ratios worldwide and more than tenfold lower than in high-income countries,” he said.

He noted that nurses accounted for 66 per cent of Africa’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030. This gap limited access to essential healthcare services and hindered progress towards universal health coverage.

Additionally, Mr Ihekweazu emphasised that despite 43 per cent of the nursing workforce in Africa being under 35, many nurses lacked access to mentorship or clear career pathways.

He also raised concerns about the continued recruitment of nurses from low-income countries by high-income nations, which relied heavily on foreign-born nurses, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of their nursing workforce.

The WHO official also highlighted a 43 per cent shortfall in health workforce financing in African countries, leading to widespread underemployment, particularly among nurses and midwives.

According to him, in May 2024, African leaders endorsed the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, paving the way for long-term improvements.

Mr Ihekweazu noted that some countries, like Zimbabwe, were taking steps to address the challenges.

“For example, Zimbabwe’s new Investment Compact aims to mobilise an additional $166 million annually over the next three years to strengthen its health workforce,” he said.

According to him, the annual report recommended nursing education, the introduction of advanced practice roles and the improvement of working conditions.

“In spite of women comprising 85 per cent of the nursing workforce, the gender pay gap remains at seven per cent,” he said.

Mr Ihekweazu ended by stressing the broader role of nurses: “Nurses are more than caregivers.”

42% of nurses in Africa love to migrate – WHO

(NAN)

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ABC Logistics accelerates deliveries across major Nigerian routes, backed by fleet expansion

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ABC Logistics accelerates deliveries across major Nigerian routes, backed by fleet expansion

 

ABC Logistics has announced significantly faster delivery timelines across key commercial corridors in Nigeria, reinforcing its position as a dependable partner for time-sensitive cargo movement.

Customers on select major routes can now benefit from improved delivery windows of 24 to 48 hours, reflecting enhanced operational speed, stronger coordination, and increased distribution capacity, according to the company.

It stated that the improved turnaround time was driven by the firm’s recent fleet expansion, which had strengthened haulage capacity and reduced transit bottlenecks along high-volume routes.

The addition of new vehicles has enhanced route optimisation, improved schedule discipline, and increased overall network efficiency—enabling the company to sustain faster deliveries with greater consistency.

A statement by the company listed some of the routes covered by the accelerated delivery service as:

From Lagos: Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Warri, Lokoja, Abeokuta, Akure, Ilorin, Asaba, Owerri and Onitsha.

From Abuja: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Lokoja, Benin, Owerri and Onitsha.

From the Eastern region (Owerri axis): Enugu and Abuja.

In addition to expanding its fleet, the company says it has upgraded its hub operations through semi-automated cargo processing systems, structured loading protocols, and trolley-assisted loading and offloading.

These enhancements have reduced handling time, strengthened cargo security, and improved operational coordination nationwide.

Management stated that the strategic investment in fleet expansion and process efficiency underscores its commitment to meeting the growing demand for faster, secure and reliable logistics services across Nigeria’s commercial centres.

ABC Logistics is the trade name of ABC Cargo Express Limited, a subsidiary of ABC Transport Plc.

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Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards, Orders 5,000 CCTV Cameras to Boost Security in Plateau

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with victims of palm Sunday Attack in Plateau State

Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards, Orders 5,000 CCTV Cameras to Boost Security in Plateau

President Bola Tinubu has approved major security measures for Plateau State, including the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and the deployment of over 5,000 CCTV cameras, following the recent deadly attacks in Jos.

The announcement was made by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, who shared the development via his verified X handle. The approval aims to strengthen security across the state, particularly in vulnerable areas prone to communal clashes and criminal activities.

The President revealed the directives during a town hall meeting in Jos, where he met with political, traditional, and community leaders. The meeting followed the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, which left at least 27 people dead and triggered widespread concern over safety in Plateau State.

“The Honourable Minister for Communication is here to give you assurance that we are going to install immediately a network of cameras that will help law enforcement agencies identify troublemakers instantly, over 5,000 of them,” Tinubu said, inviting the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to explain the operational plan.

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Tinubu also stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, directing the Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Minister of Defence to intensify efforts to apprehend the attackers. “You must unearth and find the killers,” he said, acknowledging the sacrifices of security personnel and the need for swift justice.

In addition to surveillance and security reinforcement, the President announced plans to set up a committee to assess victims’ losses and recommend compensation, including representatives from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Plateau State Government. He noted, “We cannot replace human beings, but we can give them minimum comfort.”

Governor Caleb Mutfwang thanked President Tinubu for the support, highlighting that the recruitment of forest guards would enhance grassroots security and complement existing military and police operations. The deployment of CCTV cameras, many equipped with AI-based monitoring technology, is intended to improve real-time surveillance and intelligence gathering across Jos and other high-risk areas.

The President’s visit also included engagement with victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack, including families who lost loved ones. The federal measures reflect an ongoing effort to curb violence, protect communities, and reassure residents that security agencies are actively addressing threats in Plateau State.

Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards, Orders 5,000 CCTV Cameras to Boost Security in Plateau

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EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

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Immediate-past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN)
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN)

EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to permanently seize 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of its investigation into suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti‑graft agency presented the application before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, urging the court to grant a final forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria after an earlier interim forfeiture order was issued in January. The case is filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026.

In a motion filed by its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, and Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the EFCC maintained that the respondents — including Malami, his relatives, and multiple corporate entities — have failed to justify why the interim forfeiture order should be reversed.

The commission grounded its application in Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud‑Related Offences Act, 2006, which empowers courts to confiscate assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful conduct, even without a criminal conviction. The EFCC argued that due process was followed, including the publication of the interim forfeiture order in THISDAY newspaper on January 9, 2026.

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“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Okutepa told the court, adding that “no sufficient cause has been shown why the properties… should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

An affidavit deposed to by EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo outlined the scope of the probe, which began after multiple petitions accused Malami of corruption, abuse of office and fraud. Investigators examined financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and obtained information from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Land registries and geographical information systems in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Abuja were also consulted, and physical inspections and valuations of the properties were conducted.

Adebayo informed the court that the assets’ value was disproportionate to Malami’s lawful earnings while in office between 2015 and 2023. According to evidence presented:

  • Malami earned a total salary of ₦89,664,000 during his eight years in office, averaging about ₦962,663.68 per month.
  • He received a ₦12,158,400 severance allowance upon leaving office.
  • He declared estacode (travel) allowances totalling ₦253,608,500 for official trips between 2015 and 2023, as documented in an addendum to his asset declaration form submitted to the CCB in June 2023.

Copies of Malami’s asset declaration forms and supporting documentation were seized during an EFCC search of his residence and tendered as Exhibits EFCC 2 & 3.

The affidavit further states that many properties were acquired through proxies and corporate entities — such as Rayhaan University (Kebbi), Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd, and others — raising suspicion about their provenance. Several structures were allegedly developed without appropriate building permits or approvals, particularly in Kano and Kebbi states.

Adebayo also noted that the properties’ total value is estimated at about ₦213.2 billion, geographically spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.

Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, his son Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and the corporate respondents have challenged the interim forfeiture order and asked the court to set it aside. The matter is now slated for a full hearing on April 21, 2026 before Justice Abdulmalik.

This application follows an earlier ruling on January 8, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite, which granted the EFCC’s ex parte request for interim forfeiture and ordered publication to allow interested parties to contest it within 14 days — a window that has since lapsed without successful challenges to overturn the interim order.

Legal experts note that final forfeiture applications such as this one test the non‑conviction based forfeiture regime and could shape future asset recovery efforts in high‑profile corruption cases in Nigeria.

EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

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