By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Task Force of the Niger State Private Health Facilities Agency (NiSPHFA) has sealed Ellamara Special...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Task Force of the Niger State Private Health Facilities Agency (NiSPHFA) has sealed Ellamara Specialist Hospital and arrested a man allegedly posing as a medical doctor during an enforcement operation in Suleja aimed at sanitising the state’s healthcare sector.
The operation, which targeted selected private health facilities, was carried out following intelligence reports and routine regulatory inspections by the agency. Officials disclosed that the suspect was found providing medical services without the requisite qualifications, professional registration, and a valid practising licence as required by law.
According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who reportedly dropped out of medical school, had been practising as a medical doctor in Suleja for about six years. He was also said to have been dismissed by a former employer over credential-related concerns. The agency further disclosed that he had allegedly been arrested in Cross River State in the past for a similar offence.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Chairman of NiSPHFA, Dr Abdullahi Suleiman, said the enforcement action forms part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect residents from unsafe medical practices and ensure strict compliance with healthcare standards across private health facilities in the state. He warned facility owners against employing unqualified personnel, stressing that the agency would not tolerate actions that compromise patient safety and public health.
The Executive Chairman explained that the affected facility had been sealed pending the conclusion of investigations, while the suspect had been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution. He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious healthcare practices to the appropriate authorities.
In the course of the exercise, a total of 15 private health facilities were closed for various regulatory infractions, including failure to meet operational standards and non-compliance with licensing requirements.
Dr Suleiman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening oversight of private healthcare establishments and ensuring that only qualified professionals provide medical services in the state.
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