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Statement from Dr Christos CHRISTOU, MSF International President

Statement from Dr Christos CHRISTOU, MSF International President
By: Our Reporter
When I heard about the flooding that hit Maiduguri, on the top of the extreme challenges people in the region have faced for decades, I wanted to shed light on the challenges impacting people. Coming to Nigeria, I have seen why the massive flooding in Maiduguri has gained some attention worldwide – the shocking scale has affected millions of people. But it is not the only region of Nigeria affected by flooding.
People in northern Nigeria have been through a lot – overwhelming levels of malnutrition, frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, lack of medical facilities and medical personnel; all of this has been compounded by continuous insecurity. People now have to seek temporary shelter in displacement camps once again, rebuild their homes once again, and try to figure out what’s left of their farmland.
Because this flooding happened at the end of the lean season, it has deprived farmers of even the illusory hope to harvest. During my visit to Maiduguri, I went to the hospitals and clinics where MSF works. We support the local healthcare system in tackling malaria and other diseases, as well as in providing access to maternity services.
Recently, we had to launch a cholera treatment centre, after a cholera outbreak was officially declared. All this has happened in the background of a catastrophic malnutrition crisis.
One of my colleagues, a Nigerian doctor who has been working with MSF for more than eight years, told me that this year is very different. Every year, he said, during this season, we see terrible numbers of malnourished children coming to the hospital in a severe condition. But this year, at a time when the peak is supposed to be over, the number of patients admitted to the hospital is not going down. Worse, the condition in which they arrive is even more severe than usual. Very often people don’t have access even to basic medical care where they live, and do not have enough money or available transport.
As a result, they reach to us too late. Now, many organisations which were providing support in Maiduguri and other parts of the north of Nigeria have had to reduce their budgets or even stop their operations. Will MSF, a non-governmental organisation relying on private donations, be able to help all who are in need? My colleague sounded really scared.
For the past few years, MSF has seen a significant increase in the number of admissions for malnutrition. The numbers in 2022 and 2023 were already critically high. But between January to August this year, we have seen a fifty-one per cent increase in admissions of children with severe malnutrition, compared to the same period last year. Over the first eight months of this year, we have treated 52,725 children with severe malnutrition, a life-threatening condition, across the whole of northern Nigeria.
On top of this, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles are recurrent in Nigeria, and one of the leading causes of death amongst children. Between January – August this year alone, we had already treated over 12,500 cases of measles. That’s nearly double the same period last year. Outbreaks of infectious diseases significantly increase mortality risks for children under the age of five.
Unvaccinated children in this age group are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases, diseases which elevate the risk of acute malnutrition.
In addition, there is malaria. Nigeria has the highest rates of malaria in the world – accounting for nearly 27 per cent of the global malaria burden. This disease can be prevented and treated. Yet in most of the projects we see that our malaria wards are overwhelmed, and children continue to die from it.
We all clearly see that the scale of the humanitarian crises is devastating. We need to see intensified lifesaving care for malnutrition, with a focus on preventive programmes to act before children become critically ill. Enhancing vaccination coverage requires routine immunisation services, with sustained investment from the authorities to maintain basic health care, alongside catch-up campaigns that extend to children under five.
The humanitarian community faces a lot of challenges globally, with the magnitude of emergencies exceeding all imaginable quantities and scale. But in Nigeria thousands of families have just lost their crops. They already lack access to basic health care and have been struggling for survival for many years. The humanitarian community needs to act and to provide necessary support now. This is not the time to relent, this is not the time to stop. We have to help the people who need assistance now.
Statement from Dr Christos CHRISTOU, MSF International President
News
Police arrest six officers over killing of okada rider in Lagos

Police arrest six officers over killing of okada rider in Lagos
By: Zagazola Makama
The Lagos State Police Command have arrested six of its personnel, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), over the killing of a commercial motorcyclist at Onosa town, Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
Sources confirmed the development to Zagazola Makama on Saturday saying the incident occurred in the early hours of Aug. 29 when a team of policemen allegedly on illegal duty clashed with a group of okada riders.
According to the sources , the officers, led by ASP Dauda Irimia of the Division Motor Traffic Department (MTD), were attacked by motorcyclists in their large numbers.
“In their bid to ensure their safety, the ASP used his firearm, which resulted in three of the riders sustaining injuries. They were rushed to Luscent Private Hospital, Ibeju-Lekki, where one of them, Muazu Abubakar, 22, was confirmed dead,” said the sources.
The incident sparked a violent protest as youths and commercial riders blocked the Lekki–Epe expressway, disrupting traffic along the busy corridor.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, personally led reinforcement teams that dispersed the protesters, cleared the barricades, and restored the free flow of traffic.
He thereafter engaged youth and community leaders in dialogue to sustain peace and prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, the ASP who fired the fatal shot and five other members of his team have been arrested and detained.
Police said a thorough investigation into the incident had commenced, adding that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against those found culpable.
Police arrest six officers over killing of okada rider in Lagos
News
Security forces bust child trafficking syndicate in akwa ibom, arrest five

Security forces bust child trafficking syndicate in akwa ibom, arrest five
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces in Akwa Ibom have arrested five suspected members of a child trafficking syndicate along the Ikot Ekpene–Aba highway.
Zagazola Makama learnt from sources that detectives attached to the Criminal Surveillance Unit (CSU), while on stop-and-search duty on Aug. 28, intercepted an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Uwakmfom Transportation Company.
According to the sources , one of the passengers, identified as Precious Emmanuel Bassey, was found with a two-year-old girl, Glory Edet Etim, but could not give a satisfactory account of the child.
“She was immediately arrested and, upon interrogation, confessed that she was taking the child to Lagos for trafficking. She also admitted to having earlier sold another child,” said the sources.
The sources added that based on her confession, four other suspects Godspower Edet, Esther Effiong Edet, Mandu Asuquo Sampson and Eli Adolphus were arrested.
Sources said discreet investigation was ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and recover previously trafficked children.
Security forces bust child trafficking syndicate in akwa ibom, arrest five
News
Army launches operation to rescue abducted farmers in Edo

Army launches operation to rescue abducted farmers in Edo
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have launched a joint operation with local vigilantes to rescue two persons abducted on a farm in Amedokhian community, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the victims, identified as Mr. Clifford Isolate and an unidentified woman, were kidnapped on the morning of Aug. 29 while working on a farm in Ukoni Amedokhian.
He said the army immediately mobilised troops to the area in coordination with local vigilantes and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Esan youths to secure the release of the victims.
“Our troops were deployed promptly to track and apprehend the abductors while ensuring the safety of the victims.
The sources said the operation is ongoing, and all necessary measures are being taken to ensure a successful rescue.
Army launches operation to rescue abducted farmers in Edo
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