From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Community of Hwrra Village in Kwall District of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State has come under deadly attack by suspected gunmen killing three Irigwe natives.

The incident is said to have followed a narrow escape by the community just a day earlier, on April 6, when suspected “Fulani militias” ambushed them while heading to Hukke, mere hours after celebrating the Zrrechi festival.

It would be recalled that on April 2, gunmen attacked Hurti, Ruwi, Josho, Daffo, Manguna and other communities of the LGA.

More than 40 persons were killed, 383 houses were destroyed, and 1,000 persons were displaced following the attack.

Gov. Caleb Mutfwang had described the attacks and killings as a coordinated crime sponsored by conflict merchants and not farmer-herder clashes.

The recent attack came barely 24hours after the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, convened a peace meeting with stakeholders on Monday in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The leadership of Irigwe Development Association (IDA) has disclosed that they were informed Tuesday morning of an attack at Hwrra village yesterday at about 8:30pm which claimed the lives of 3 persons.

The National Publicity Secretary of IDA, Sam Jugo ina statement on Tuesday said, “The EXCO of Irigwe Development Association (IDA) was informed this morning of an attack at Hwrra village yesterday the 7th April, 2025 at about 8:30pm which claimed the lives of 3 persons as follows: “Yakubu Mali, 48 years, Mangwa Ive, 40 years, and Israel Riti, 51 years. The security agencies have been notified and are doing their investigations.

While praying for the souls of those killed to rest in peace and comfort to the family, Jugo noted that “IDA and by extension the Irigwe Traditional Council urges all to remain law abiding and allow law enforcement agencies to do the needful please,” he stated.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has advised exporters to adopt group export strategies to remain competitive following the recent 14 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on Nigerian exports.

NSC’s Deputy Director, Stakeholders Services, Hannah Adaba made the recommendation during a sensitisation programme held in Kaduna State.

The event aimed to educate stakeholders on the council’s online portal for the registration of regulated port service providers and users.

“When you export as an individual, it’s difficult to enjoy rebates,” she explained.

“But with group exports, exporters can share the tariff burden. This way, they can maximise profits and stay in business.

Adaba represented the NSC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Pius Akutah.

She highlighted that one of the key benefits of registering on the NSC portal was access to valuable information that could help stakeholders grow their businesses.

She added that the portal would also connected service providers and users, offering details on shipping destinations and associated costs.

“Additionally, the system will help update NSC records and enhance the traceability of individuals involved in fraudulent activities, thereby reducing malpractice at the ports.”

Similarly, the State Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Kaduna, Mr. Kabiru Yusuf, underscored the importance of registration for shippers and exporters.

He encouraged exporters to explore alternative markets in light of the U.S. tariff.

According to Yusuf, the new U.S. trade policy should not deter Nigerian exporters, as global opportunities remain abundant.

“The world is a global village. If one market becomes difficult—like the U.S.—we should pivot to others with less stringent policies, such as those in the East,” he said.

“If the U.S. is willing to engage in dialogue, that’s great. But in the meantime, we must start looking elsewhere to safeguard our export businesses.”(NAN)

By David Torough, Abuja

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, said over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in the last five to seven years to seek greener pastures in other countries.

Pate also said the doctor-to-population ratio is now 3.

This was as he lamented that nurses and midwives who left have also thinned the numbers of healthcare workers in the country.

The minister disclosed this at the seventh annual capacity building workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Abuja yesterday with the theme: “Integrated healthcare regulation and leadership in building resilient health systems.

According to him, an increasing number of Nigeria’s talented healthcare professionals aspire to work in other countries—driven by factors such as economic opportunity, better working conditions, more advanced training, and superior research environments abroad.

He said the migration of health professionals from developing countries is not new, but it has accelerated in recent years.

“In Nigeria alone, over 16,000 doctors are estimated to have left the country in the last five to seven years, with thousands more leaving in just the past few years. Nurses and midwives have also thinned in numbers. The doctor-to-population ratio now stands at around 3.9 per 10,000—well below the suggested global minimum.

“But this trend is not just about people leaving. It represents a fiscal loss. The estimated cost of training one doctor exceeds $21,000—a figure that reflects the magnitude of public financing walking out of our countries. It deeply affects our health systems—leaving many of our rural communities critically underserved.”

He, however, emphasised that the phenomenon offers an opportunity to rethink and reshape the policies, to manage the valuable health workforce in ways that benefit our countries first and foremost.

“In Nigeria, guided by the vision of President Bola Tinubu, who African Heads of State appointed as the AU’s Continental Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery, we are pursuing a new direction. His vision is for Nigeria to become a prosperous, people-oriented country that contributes to a peaceful and thriving continent. Not a standalone Nigeria, but a Nigeria that is interlinked with all our neighbours and sister countries. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and within the framework of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, we have embraced a new path—combining strategic realism with visionary ambition.

“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is a cornerstone of this path. It is designed to address health workforce migration with dignity—dignity for health workers, for the country, and the profession. It is data-driven, evidence-guided, and signals a clear direction. This is not a restrictive policy, nor is it one born out of resignation. We understand that the global health workforce shortage is at 18 million, and countries in the Global North face their human resource crises due to demographics and other factors. But our response is based on stewardship—balancing the rights of health professionals to seek opportunities abroad with our duty to protect the integrity and viability of our national health system.

“The objectives are clear – To retain and motivate health workers currently serving in Nigeria—thousands of whom work under difficult conditions; to establish ethical norms and explore bilateral frameworks for recruitment, aiming to correct global asymmetries; to expand training capacity—not only for domestic needs, but to contribute to global workforce needs, to enable structured reintegration for the thousands of Nigerian professionals abroad; and to strengthen governance, improve regulatory coordination, and build real-time data systems.”

He urged Africa to lead in forging a new global compact on health workforce mobility—anchored in pan-African training and accreditation standards; shared planning tools, evidence, and data; continental negotiating platforms with destination countries; and sustained investments in the people who care for our people.

The President of AMCOA, Prof Joel Okullo, stressed the importance of collaboration among African countries to tackle healthcare challenges and improve regulation and leadership across the continent.

He expressed the belief that the outcome of the workshop would produce actionable strategies to improve healthcare services across Africa.

“This year’s theme highlights our commitment to tackling the diverse array of challenges within the health regulatory landscape. It seeks to empower AMCOA members and associate members with the wisdom and skills needed for informed strategic and operational decisions in the coming year.

“In this intricate regulatory tapestry, our discussions will illuminate strategies and insights that will bolster regulators’ capabilities. Our focus will revolve around managing health workforce mobility, improving credentialing and information data management systems.

“Let us embark on this journey with enthusiasm and a shared sense of purpose. Our collaborative efforts today and over the next few days will lay the groundwork for transformative changes that will resonate across the healthcare landscape of Africa,” he noted.

The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Fatima Kyari, while welcoming participants to the event, noted that it was Nigeria’s first AMCOA workshop while commending the alignment of leadership towards the shared goal of patient safety.

The Board Chairperson of MDCN, Prof Afolabi Lesi highlighted the need for healthcare regulators to uphold global standards while adapting to local contexts.

Lesi, who is also the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the workshop addressed the challenges of fragmented professional relationships that hinder implementation and compromise patient care.

“The reality is that while we have committed and clear directions at the level of governance, implementation of actions is bedevilled by the fractioned and fractious relationship among health workers who ought to be working as a team, with the patient (well-being and safety) as the primary focus of all our actions,” he said.