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LAHA Approves 1.768 Trillion 2023 Budget

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Mudashiru Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

After several weeks of scrutiny, the Lagos State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa has finally approved the 2023 Budget presented by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu.

The Lawmakers passed a total of ₦1,768,014,155,285 as the budget for 2023 with the Speaker, showering encomiums on his colleagues for their collective sacrifice and the swiftness with which the Appropriation Bill was handled.

The sum of N748,096,508,571 was budgeted as Recurrent expenditure and N1,019,917,646,713 as Capital expenditure for the year ending 31st December, 2023.

The sectoral allocations also shows that N3,228,396,960 was approved as the new Overhead Cost of the Office of Civic Engagement for drug abuse advocacy.

The sum of N802,987,206 was approved as the new Capital Expenditure of the Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget while N1,200,000,000 was approved as the new Overhead Cost (Social Intervention and Humanitarian Programme) in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

Presiding over the plenary, Obasa said the passion with which the lawmakers processed the bill for passage showed their love for the progress of Lagos State.

He also expressed hope that residents of the State would show their satisfaction with the lawmakers and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by voting for candidates of the party in Lagos and at the centre during the forthcoming election.

It would be recalled Governor Sanwo-Olu had in October presented the sum of N1.69 trillion ‘budget of continuity’ to the House.

While receiving the proposal from the Governor, Speaker Obasa had urged that the 2023 budget “should have more human face, be targeted at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the residents of the State as part of the THEMES agenda of the administration.”

Students To Buy Re-election Form For Governor Uzodinma

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma with Students on His Birthday

Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students,  Imo State Chapter,  have felicitated with Governor Hope Uzodinma on his 64th birthday, on December 12,  with a pledge to buy the re-election form for the Governor next year.

The students said that Governor Uzodinma has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he has the capacity to lead Imo State to an enviable height and should be encouraged to seek re-election next year.

Rejoicing with the Governor on his birthday when they visited him at Government House Owerri on Monday, the NANS leadership said that considering the several gestures of the Governor to students of Imo State origin and NANS in general, they will purchase the Governorship Nomination Form for him  when the time comes.

Vice President of NANS, Comrade Victor Ezenagu, said they came to appreciate the Governor on his birthday and to remind him of his numerous gestures to Imo Students, especially the role he played during NANS election that saw an Imo Student emerge as the National Vice President.

Furthermore, he said the efforts the Governor made to convince the Federal Government to make the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri a University Teaching Hospital and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education,  a University of Education, are efforts the Governor made that should require encouragement.

Again, the students thanked the Governor for making them comfortable by embarking on the Naze/Ihiagwa road project which they said has made their movement safe and smooth “but most importantly, the ICT empowerment programme through the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Governance which the Governor launched recently as ‘Skill-Up Project’ for Imo Youths.”

Like Oliver twist,  Comrade Ezenagu on behalf of his colleagues appealed to the Governor for assistance in the areas of mobility for the nine different institutions in Imo State which he put at over 3.1million Nigerian students with about 75% being  Imo indigenes, to enable them go for student’s programmes.

The students sincerely congratulated the Governor for his birthday and wished him a Happy and Prosperous Birthday.

They also presented him with a birthday Cake which the Governor and some members of the Executive Council in conjunction with the Students cut at the occasion.

Expressing his gratitude to the students,  Governor Uzodimma thanked the Students for finding it fit and proper to celebrate him with a special gift.

In his words: “I will continue to encourage National Association of Nigerian Students and Imo youths in general because they represent the future of Imo State and Nigeria in general.”

The Governor added that they are the new leadership of the state and the nation in general with new ideas that will propel the nation to a greater height.

He prayed that what they have done today those coming after them will do better in future, promising to do his best to process their request even if in segments.

The Governor also expressed happiness that the students that visited him represent all strata of the society, noting that they represent culture and tradition by their dress mode, represent the legislature and even the judiciary.

He said what he has seen in the NANS Imo Chapter is the best so far in Nigeria and enjoined them to always be good citizens and Ambassadors of the State.

Imo INEC Attack: Two Gunmen Arrested, Three Killed; Governor Says Attack Politically Motivated

By
The Source
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INEC Headquarters in Imo State

Three bandits who were part of the gang that attacked the  Imo Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri on Monday, and set it ablaze were neutralised by the Police, who also arrested two others alive with bullet wounds.

Security Operatives in the State are also combing the nooks and crannies of  Owerri for the fleeing members of the gang believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds when the Police engaged them at the INEC office located on Port Harcourt road, in the early hours of Monday.

Addressing newsmen at the Police Headquarters where the three neutralized hoodlums and two who were captured alive were paraded, Governor Hope Uzodinma wondered why bandits should think of attacking the INEC office at this time the body is preparing seriously for the upcoming elections if they were not being used.

The Governor said: “We need to decode the motive behind the action and why INEC is the target.”

He said what happened and events of the past confirms what he has always said that, “what is happening in Imo State is politically contrived, and justifiably so.”

He wondered why “some people think they can win election, yet they don’t want elections to hold. How then will they win?”

Governor Uzodimma emphasized:  “INEC does not need this type of distraction at this point and stage of our elections, rather they should be supported by all and sundry. But contrary to that what we now see are people creating distractions here and there and attacking innocent people.

“If now we put one and two together and recall that people have threatened that Imo State will be made ungovernable and there will be no elections in Imo State, that is the attempt to achieve their purpose.”

The Governor, however, assuaged the fears of Imo people, noting that “since the Police are prepared, and the security agencies are ready, there will be elections in Imo State by the Grace of God.”

The Governor also urged Imo people to go out and collect their PVCs as the State and INEC have decentralized the team.

He assured of sufficient security at the Local Government up to the Ward Levels to support our people in the exercise, even as he reassured that it will be a peaceful exercise.”

He reminded Imo people that “the collection of Voters Card is key to the elections we are looking forward to and if one doesn’t have the Voters Card he/she will not be able to vote.

“So, the Government working with the security agencies will do their best to ensure that all the environments, the Local Government Headquarters, the Ward and Collection Centres are properly protected and sufficient security presence assured.”

He seized the opportunity to reassure Imo people coming back for the Christmas celebrations that “the State Government with the efforts of the Security Agencies in withstanding the bandits will have a very peaceful and hitch-free Christmas.”

Briefing the Governor on the activities of the bandits and how his men were able to counter and neutralise some of them, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammad Ahmed Barde said that “the bandits attacked the Assumpta roundabout where they burnt a Sienna bus,” and that his men “confronted them and forced them to abandon one of their vehicles and from their they moved to attack the INEC headquarters in Owerri Imo State.”

Barde said the Police were able to neutralize three of them and arrested two alive while others escaped with bullet wounds, assuring that the Police are on trail of them.

He added that the police recovered three AK47 riffles,  three Pump action guns and some Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) as well two vehicles from the bandits.

The Police Commissioner passionately appealed to the media to report exactly what happened “because at the social media the story will be different,” regretting that the stories on the social media always tend to promote the activities of the miscreants “and that is why they seem to be above everybody.”

Governor Uzodimma later visited the crime scenes at the  Control Post roundabout where the Sienna bus was burnt and the INEC headquarters for on the spot assessment of the attack on the buildings and vehicles.

Imo: Archbishop Stripped Naked By Gunmen

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

For Archbishop Paul Hansen, it was a Sunday like no other.

He had woken up and prepared for a long day, and a very important mission.

Hansen, the Founder and Archbishop of a Pentecostal  Church, Unifaith Living Church Incorporated, was on his way from his Akwa Ibom State base to Ogidi, Anambra State. His mission to Anambra was to consecrate  the Bishop of one of his branches, Norman Okeorimili.

The journey was smooth until he got to Orlu, Imo State. Specifically at Akare Market Square, the story changed. He ran into gunmen who intercepted him. They went to work on him.

Without any consideration for Hansen’s status as an Archbishop, the gunmen stripped him naked, and made away with car, his Priestly dress, rank badge, money and six phones, including that of his driver.

The Archbishop and his driver were lucky they were not kidnapped, as well.

Time was about 2.00pm.

Left naked and helpless, it was a good Samaritan who rescued Hansen both men. Their benefactor drove them to the nearest Police Division, from where Hansen called the DPO in his area of residence, and narrated his fate.

Hansen who narrated his ordeal to Journalists when he, finally, arrived at the Church in Ogidi said: “The incident happened at Akata, Orlu Market Square, Imo State, while I was coming from Akwa Ibom State to consecrate the Bishop of our Church,  Norman Okeorimili, in Ogidi.

“I was stripped. They left me with a pant, my car and all in it removed. They included six phones that included those of my driver, money, regalia, badge rank among others.

“It was somebody I don’t know that brought his car to help me. He helped me to the  Police Area Commander, and from there, I called my own Divisional Police Officer in Akwa Ibom, and told him what happened.”

Since 9th December, violence in the South-east has escalated following a five-day sit-at-home order declared by Finland-based Simon Ekpa, an estranged member of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.

IPOB has since denied him and his activities and utterances. His order is, also, being resisted by outraged South Easterners.

“I Remain A Peter Obi Diehard,” –  Fmr SGF, Babachir Lawal

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Dr Babachir Lawal has declared that “I remain a Peter Obi diehard. Any news to the contrary is fake news.”

Reacting to report that he has thrown his support behind the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, the former SGF stated that he still stands behind  Obi.

He pointed out that Atiku’s Presidential ambition would not fly because it will amount to transition of government from one Muslim Fulani President to another Muslim Fulani President and would be the worst form of Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The former SGF warned that Atiku’s having his way would represent ethnic domination by one ethnic group over others.

Babachir Lawal reaffirmed his commitment to the actualization of the ambition of the Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi in the 2023 general elections.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Lawal dismissed the news insisting that he would not support any Fulani person that may undermine Nigeria’s unity through religion or ethnicity.

“I have just seen a trending news that I have abandoned Peter Obi to work for Atiku Abubakar.

“There is nothing far from the truth as this. I have never contemplated joining PDP since its formation as I view the PDP has the worst form of a collection of oligarchs and reactionaries.

“Besides, I find myself every year battling fulani herdsmen determined to have their animals invade my farms and eat-up my crops every year.

“This is aside from their determination to takeover the ancestral farmlands of my kinsmem as they do everywhere in the North. All these they do in a cavalier manner while their elite kinsmen dominant in the government keep mute.

“Moreover, I view a transition of government  from one Muslim Fulani President to another as the worst form of Muslim-Muslim ticket. It also represents ethnic domination by one ethnic group over others.”

Ondo Govt Seeks International Assistance To Curtail Sea Incursion

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has disclosed that the issue of sea incursion, which has almost ravaged the entire Aiyetoro community, in Ilaje local government, is receiving international attention.

Most communities in the coastal area of the state have been confronted with the problem of sea incursion, but that of Aiyetoro has been devastating with almost entire land mass submerged.

The Niger/ Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has in the past awarded contract for dredging and embarkment to curtail the trend but the scourge continues

The State Commissioner for information, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, announced in Akure that “The issue of Ayetoro, is on the front burner, we are in talks with the European Union.

“When I was at the United Nations General Assembly in September, I spoke on the devastation wrought by climate change, with Ayetoro as target. I asked for help for Ondo state and we are going to get it.”

She spoke on behalf of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at an Africa Oil leadership award.

On environmental issues,  Ademola-Olateju  stressed that the present administration takes the issue of environmental degradation seriously.

She said productive steps are being taken to address the issue of Sea incursion in Ayetoro community in the Southern part of the state.

“I understand the degradation, the environmental destruction of the ecosystem of oil producing communities. This has been subsisting for long, you will recall, this is cause that Ken Saro Wiwa died for. It did not start today but we are committed to solving ours.”

She said it is on record that the country has been producing about 16 million barrel per day since five years ago, shortfall due to oil theft, reducing income therefrom. Ondo State has been spending its share prudently.

On revenue from oil, the commissioner stated that the present administration is highly accountable, transparent and follow due process.

“I do not know about the past, but I know about the present, that everyone in this government is wholeheartedly committed to using public fund for public goods.

“I, as a commissioner, I do not know how it is easy or possible to steal money. My approval limit is 999.999 thousand naira and Mr Governor’s approval limit is 20 million naira.

“On contracts, there is benchmark price for every procurement from from the Bureau of Public Procurement. Mr. Governor cannot approve contracts exceeding his limit without bringing the contract to the Executive Council.”

She reiterated the commitment of the state government to pay inherited salary arrears between now and next month.

She explained that arrangements have been concluded for the payment of outstanding two months salaries. She described the Government of the State under the leadership of the Governor, Akeredolu, as the administration of construction, reconstruction, innovation and redemption.

Atiku’s Convoy Nearly Crushed Me To Death – Bayo Onanuga

By
The Source
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Bayo Onanuga Accident

I had a close shave with death on Sunday night in Abuja as I was returning home at about 9pm after a visit to Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi.

I was driving on the first lane of Shehu Shagari Way when I noticed a convoy emerging from one of the feeder roads. I counted in the centre lane, four vehicles ahead of me.

I slowed down on my own lane to give a wide berth to the convoy. My slowing down turned a mistake as a Toyota SUV emerged from the same road where the convoy had earlier emerged. It headed straight to my car. I was petrified as the driver rammed into my Toyota Camry, by the passenger side.

The force of the collision immediately severed the side mirror from the body, severely dented and scratched the two doors on its path. I watched in horror as the driver of the SUV reversed the car and joined the cavalcade, leaving me behind to my fate.

He didn’t bother to stop to check the damage his vehicle had done to my own car, whether he had left me or anyone inside it traumatised by his recklessness. He just drove away.

Instinctively, I followed the convoy, which headed to Asokoro area of the city.

At this point, I didn’t know the VIP embedded in the convoy. Initially, I thought it was a governor as the car that hit me bore a number plate that starts with RSH. My interest in following the convoy was to lodge a complaint about the murderous driver and get my car repaired.

The convoy drove deep into Asokoro, into TY Danjuma Road and then entered one of the mansions, at the entrance of which were several banners of Atiku-Okowa campaign. I drove into the compound with the convoy as I had my hazard light on like other vehicles in the convoy. My adventure was certainly getting interesting. I, an APC and Tinubu campaigner inside the PDP Atiku-Okowa den.

Who was the big man whose convoy nearly killed me? Was it Okowa or Atiku or an Atiku supporter? Up till this point. I had no idea as the mystery big man had been shepherded into the house, well ahead of me by the security aides, who now accosted me as I wanted to enter the house.

You can’t just enter the house, one of the aides blustered as some policemen blocked my path, as well. “One of your drivers nearly killed me at the secretariat. He damaged my car,’ I shouted back and demanded to see their big man.

Our argument was creating a scene as more people came closer to behold the audacious intruder that I seemed to be.

Another aide asked me to show him the damage to the car. He introduced himself as the chief of staff and gave an undertaking to repair the car. He tendered an apology as well.

His approach mollified me. I gave him my complimentary card and we exchanged phone numbers.

Moments after, I entered my car to continue my interrupted journey home.

Because I had not cracked the mystery big man, I stopped outside to ask a guard about the owner of the house, where I just emerged. ‘It’s Atiku,’ he said. Another neighbor also confirmed this.

As I drove off into the night and shared my experience with Senator Afikuyomi and others, I simultaneously imagined what the headline would have been if the accident had been more severe or had resulted into some fatality.

Onanuga, a Veteran Journalist, Editor-in-Chief of TheNews/Pm News is the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council

I Will Not Vote For Atiku – Bode George; Says PDP Shut out Yoruba, Mocks Atiku

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  Chief Bode George, has said he will not vote for the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Party, also said the South-west has been marginalised by the Party. The Zone, he pointed out, has never produced the Chairman of the Party since 1998. He, however, forgot to add that the Zone held the office of the President of Nigeria for eight years.

George spoke in an interview on Sunday with The Nation where he mocked Atiku and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, who doubles as the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council. He laughed over Tambuwal’s visit to the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom on Sunday.

Ortom is one of the five PDP Governors, led by Governor Wike of Rivers State. They are at loggerheads with the leadership of the Party and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku. Their grouse, they say, is based on justice and equity. They argue that both the National Chairman of the Party and the Presidential candidate cannot come from the same Zone. They, therefore, insist that Dr Iyorchia Ayu must step down as the National Chairman and make room for a Southerner, a promise, they allege, Ayu made before the Presidential Primary to quit if the Candidate emerge from the North, but has now backed out.

The Group, popular as G-5, now renamed Integrity Group, are made of Wike, Ortom, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Seyi Makinde, Enugu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu. They also have members from from a number of PDP stakeholders, including former Governors, Deputy Governors and more. Bode George is one of them.

All efforts to resolve the crisis, including the five times Atiku personally met Wike, have been in vain. The Tambuwal visit to Ortom was to find a solution to the crisis.

But George has pooh-poohed the visit, and mocked Tambuwal and Atiku. He interpreted the visit as a ploy to break the ranks of the Integrity Group, but assured that it would never happen. He explained that their union cannot be penetrated and said Tambuwal’s visit was in vain. Nobody can split them, he boasted.

According to George,  the G-5 Governors and their allies are so united that nobody can split them, especially, as their fight, he insisted, is for justice and fairness.

He said: “Divide and rule cannot work. Governor Ortom will not agree. He is a reasonable person.

“Our rank cannot be broken. Let the governor of Sokoto go to any where he likes. We will stand by justice.”

George labelled Atiku insincere, and asked how the Presidential candidate   who failed to restructure his party, would promise a restructuring of the country. He, also, said that the South-west has been left out of everything in the PDP.

George: “The Director-General of the Campaign is from Sokoto, North-west. The National Chairman is from North-central. The Presidential Candidate is from Adamawa, North-east.

“The Acting Chairman of BoT is from South-east. The Vice Presidential Candidate is from South-south. There is nothing for the South-west. And you are fooling us. Which rank do they want to break? He cannot do restructuring in his party. He is promising restructuring for Nigeria. He is disrespecting Yoruba. We are standing by the truth. I won’t vote for him and I will not stop talking.”

Some forces in the PDP, George pointed out, are trying to deny Yoruba its sense of belonging. He noted  that the South-west has never occupied the office of the National Chairman in PDP since 1998.

George: “The first Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar, came from North’central. Chief Barnabas Gemade is from Benue, North-central. Chief Audu Ogbeh is Benue, North-central. Dr. Ahmadu Ali is Kogi, from North-central. Baraje is from North-central. Ayu is from Benue, North-central.

“Southwest has not served as Chairman before. They have disregard, disrespect and dishonour for Southwest. We will not accept it.

“The South-west is cut off from decision making organs of the party. It is sad. We cannot be slaves.”

However, as the leadership of the PDP continues to look for a solution, the Party has moved on, and campaigning, in earnest against 2023.

Three Killed As INEC HQ In Imo Attacked By Hoodlums

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
INEC Headquarters in Imo State

By Ayodele Oni

Continued attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), remain unabated as suspected hoodlums in the early hours of Monday attacked and burnt the Imo state headquarters of the Commission.

Report has it that the office, located along Port Harcourt road in Owerri, was besieged by the attackers, who wore Biafra- camouflage uniform around 2.00am.

However, luck ran against some of them as three were gunned down while one other was reportedly captured alive by policemen who rushed to the scene to repel the attack.

The Public Relations Officer, (PRO), of INEC in the state, Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, confirmed the ugly development saying the attack was said to have happened between 2 am to 3 am Monday.

But She said only the building housing the Election and Political Party Monitoring Liason offices was attacked and part of the main building.

“It happened. You can come and see things for yourself. Not all the offices were attacked but one side was completely down.

“The Election and Political Party Monitoring Liason, building was attacked and part of the main building.”

However, eyewitnesses said the hoodlums, who were in a convoy of more than five vehicles “moved from the Okigwe road shooting sporadically and scaring the residents.”

Vehicles and offices were set ablaze by the hoodlums.

It was further gathered that serious exchange between the hoodlums and policemen who came to repel the attack, led to the death of three of them.

The bodies of the hoodlums were seen lying on the ground alongside Police- recovered arms and ammunition after they were neutralized.

Foreign Trained Doctors Fail Nigeria’s Assessment Test

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN has refused to certify over 400 foreign trained doctors to work in the country.

The doctors, the Council said failed the examination required for certification.

The Council’s Registrar, Dr Tijani told Punch that 439 foreign trained medical and dental candidates failed the test, conducted on November 23 and November 24, 2022, at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

Explaining the breakdown of the two-day test, Sanusi said 916 foreign-trained medical and dental candidates sat for the assessment examination but only 477 candidates passed.

He said 24 candidates sat for the examination in Dentistry, eight passed and 16 failed. 892 candidates sat for the medical examination, 469 passed and 423 failed.

He explained that the assessment examination is a global practice, as no professional is allowed to practise in another jurisdiction without sitting for the examination.

According to him, “It is a global practice that if you train in a particular jurisdiction and you want to go to another jurisdiction, you subject yourself to an assessment examination.

“Even if you are a Professor of Medicine here and you have never practised in the United Kingdom or the United States, when you go in there, you subject yourself to their assessment examination.”

The MDCN assessment examination is compulsory for all foreign-trained doctors who plan to practise in Nigeria.

The MDCN regulates the practice of Medicine, Dentistry and Alternative Medicine in the country in the most efficient manner that safeguards the best healthcare delivery.

The assessment examination is meant for foreign-trained medical doctors and dental surgeons who want to practise in Nigeria and it tests the candidates’ ability to apply their basic medical sciences and clinical skills in a healthcare setting.

The examination is to ensure that foreign-trained doctors show themselves capable of practising in Nigeria.

On passing the examination, they are given a provisional licence to practise in Nigeria.

It is this provisional licence medical and dental graduates will use to practise during their one-year housemanship after which they are given a licence of full registration.

Meanwhile, expert in the medical sector insist that the reason why Nigerian doctors are hot cake in the world, is due to the training they received despite the dirt of funding for the sector from the government.

No fewer than 10,000 Nigerian doctors have moved out of the country to seek better working conditions in the United Kingdom, UK, in the last few months, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, the umbrella body for medical doctors in the country said in October.

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