Rivers shuts 21 health facilities, arrests three over quackery
The Rivers State Ministry of Health has closed 21 health facilities across four local government areas for operating without proper registration or failing to meet the state’s minimum healthcare standards.
The closures were announced following the ministry’s third-quarter inspection conducted in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, and Etche Local Government Areas. During this exercise, three individuals were arrested for violations uncovered by health inspectors.
The affected facilities include eight hospitals, five maternity centers, and eight diagnostic centers. Nineteen of these were found to be unregistered and operating below the standards mandated by the ministry. One registered facility was also closed when inspectors discovered that no licensed doctor or nurse was present during a surprise inspection.
The ministry initiated this enforcement action in response to surveillance reports indicating that over 150 health facilities were operating without appropriate registration. Only 20 percent of registered facilities were complying with the requirement for annual inspections and certificate renewals.
Among the closures was Manda Clinic and Maternity in Elelenwo, which was shut down in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) due to suspected child trafficking activities. A Liberian national had reported the procurement of three children from this facility in one month. The clinic was also unregistered and lacked licensed medical personnel.
NAPTIP arrested the operators of the clinic, and its premises have been sealed while investigations continue.
Another facility, Havilla Hospital in Igwuruta, was closed after its operator, identified as Isaac, was found to be running the unregistered hospital without a license from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), despite claims of having received medical training in Ukraine. Isaac was arrested and is set to be referred to the MDCN.
The operator of Ola Oluwa Medical Centre, identified as Sunday Ogundele, was arrested and handed over to the police on suspicion of impersonation after inspectors determined that he had no medical training or license. Kambel Hospital in Abara-Etche and Golden Era Hospital in Igwuruta were also shut down for lacking licensed medical professionals.
Additionally, inspectors visited Sarah Maternity in Belema Polo, Enugu Waterside, a facility operated by a well-known traditional birth attendant. The maternity center reportedly handled over 1,000 women and saw daily traffic of more than 200 patients. Although not shut down, the operator was issued an official warning, and the facility will serve as a contact point for training and guidelines for other traditional birth attendants and maternity centers.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and chairman of the State Anti-Quackery Committee, emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting residents from unsafe medical practices. He urged all registered facilities to display their “Certificate of Standards” prominently and advised residents to verify the validity of health facility certifications before seeking care.
Dr. Wachukwu also called on the public to report any suspicious medical practices to the Ministry of Health. He stated that the enforcement drive against facilities failing to meet annual inspection and certificate renewal requirements will continue through 2026.
He expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NAPTIP, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Medical Association, and other professional bodies for their support in enforcing healthcare standards in the state.
