Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Niger State Private Health Facilities Agency (NiSPHFA) has shut down 15 private health facilities and arrested a man accused of posing as a medical doctor during a major enforcement operation in Suleja Local Government Area. The clampdown, which took place on Saturday, was part of a coordinated effort to sanitise the state’s healthcare sector, enforce regulatory standards and protect residents from unsafe medical practices.
Executive Chairman of the agency, Dr Abdullahi Suleiman, disclosed the development during an inspection visit to the affected facilities. He said the operation was guided by intelligence reports and routine compliance checks designed to weed out unqualified practitioners and unlicensed health centres. According to him, the agency’s task force sealed Ellamara Specialist Hospital after inspectors discovered that a suspect was allegedly providing medical services without the required professional qualifications, registration or a valid practising licence. Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect, who reportedly dropped out of medical school, had practised as a medical doctor in Suleja for about six years. The suspect was also said to have been disengaged by a former employer over issues relating to his credentials, and had previously been arrested in Cross River State on similar grounds.
Suleiman stated that the arrested individual has been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution, while Ellamara Specialist Hospital remains sealed pending the conclusion of inquiries. A total of 15 private health facilities were shut during the exercise for various regulatory infractions, including failure to meet operational standards and non‑compliance with licensing requirements. The facilities affected included hospitals, clinics and radiodiagnostic centres, many of which were found to be operating without registration or beyond their approved scope. The crackdown comes less than two weeks after NiSPHFA closed down 11 private health facilities in the same local government area for similar offences, underscoring the agency’s determination to enforce healthcare standards across the state.
Suleiman warned owners of private health facilities against employing unqualified personnel, stressing that the agency would not tolerate any action capable of endangering patients’ lives. He called on members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious healthcare practices to the appropriate authorities. He further reiterated NiSPHFA’s commitment to strengthening oversight of private healthcare establishments, adding that routine monitoring and compliance checks would continue across the state to ensure that only qualified professionals provide medical services.
The enforcement action has also drawn attention to the wider challenge of unregistered health institutions in the state. According to data from the agency, an estimated 4,000 private health facilities are operating across Niger State, but only about 300 are properly registered. In response, the state government has been ramping up its regulatory framework, commissioning NiSPHFA to execute a comprehensive overhaul of the private healthcare sector. Earlier this year, the government issued a one‑month ultimatum to all unregistered facilities to regularise their operations, warning that defaulters would face closure and possible prosecution. NiSPHFA has also announced plans to establish a zonal office in Suleja to strengthen monitoring and collaboration with local authorities.
Health experts have long warned that unregistered clinics and unqualified practitioners can lead to misdiagnosis, improper treatment and avoidable medical complications. By shutting down non‑compliant facilities and prosecuting individuals engaged in unauthorised medical practice, the authorities aim to reinforce accountability within the healthcare sector and safeguard the wellbeing of residents. As the crackdown continues across the state, residents are encouraged to patronise only duly registered medical institutions and to verify the credentials of healthcare providers before seeking treatment.
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