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Tag: NHIS

  • Pensioners to enrol on NHIS

    Pensioners to enrol on NHIS

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has concluded plans with the National Health Insurance Authority to enrol pensioners for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) next year.

    Executive Secretary/CEO, PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya, who made this known at a media parley in Lagos, said this was in a bid to ensure the well-being of pensioners

    The ES, who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communication, Mr. Olugbenga Ajayi, highlighted the rationale behind the plan.

    Read Also: NHIS enrolments hit 20 million, says DG

    She said: “For us in PTAD, we are always working to ensure the well-being of our pensioners, ensuring they are comfortable, and are well taken care of. We have started negotiating health insurance for our pensioners because we know that the age they are is when they need healthcare more than even we that are working. Retirement is when people need government support more than the person who is collecting money every month.

    “We are working to ensure that by 2026, if not all, at least 90 per cent of PTAD pensioners will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). PTAD has continued to introduce various initiatives to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. We have introduced Mobile Verification for people who are sick, or those who are alive but are incapacitated to attend normal verification. We schedule mobile confirmation for those who have done ‘I Am Alive’ Confirmation but later fall sick. We go there – from Lagos office, Kaduna office, our teams are always outside to ensure pensioners are taken care of and their matters are treated with utmost urgency.

    “PTAD is doing everything within its powers to ensure that pensioners receive all their entitlements – from arrears to pension increment, and we are working assiduously for this. By 2026, all arrears and other entitlements will be part of our budget, and there will be no issues anymore concerning these. PTAD is presently in 13 states of the federation”, she added.

  • NHIS enrolments hit 20 million, says DG

    NHIS enrolments hit 20 million, says DG

    The Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, on Wednesday told the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services that over 20 million Nigerians are now enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    This figure, he said, is up from 16.8 million in 2023.

    Speaking during an interactive session with the committee at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Dr. Ohiri described the milestone as a significant step toward achieving the 2027 presidential target for universal health insurance coverage.

    He highlighted progress made under the current leadership of the NHIA, including expanded coverage, enhanced service delivery, and efforts to resolve longstanding sectoral challenges.

    According to him, the agency took several steps between 2024 and 2025 to address issues such as drug shortages, denial of care, and delays in service provision.

    These interventions include revised tariffs, updated accreditation standards, enforcement of sanctions against non-compliant Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and providers, and the introduction of a one-hour deadline for issuing care authorisation codes.

    Dr. Ohiri disclosed that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) currently supports about 2.67 million beneficiaries across the country, including 800,000 new enrollees added in 2025 alone.

    He further noted that more than 7,500 women have benefited from the NHIA’s Fistula-Free Initiative and Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC) services as of May 2025.

    Of that number, 2,690 women received obstetric fistula repairs at 17 dedicated centres, while 5,289 women accessed emergency obstetric services at over 200 facilities nationwide.

    Read Also: Ex-NHIS boss: Katsina Elders’ faction distances self from anti-Tinubu comments

    He said in a significant policy shift, the NHIA has also integrated donor-funded programmes into its health insurance platform. Pilot projects are currently underway in five states, providing insurance coverage for people living with HIV and tuberculosis patients.

    The Director-General added that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory now have functional State Social Health Insurance Agencies (SSHIA), contributing to the widespread accessibility of health insurance across the country.

    On complaints resolution, Dr. Ohiri said the agency resolved over 80 per cent of enrollees’ complaints in 2024, representing a 21 per cent improvement in response time.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Amos Magaji, stressed the importance of making health insurance services more effective and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

    He urged the NHIA to establish hotlines in health facilities under its coverage to allow beneficiaries to report service delivery issues.

    Magaji also requested verifiable data on women who have benefited from the agency’s fistula-free and emergency obstetric care initiatives.

  • Reps to investigate challenges in implementation of NHIS

    Reps to investigate challenges in implementation of NHIS

    …seek reforms for effective healthcare delivery

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the causes of underperformance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria, aiming to identify challenges and recommend reforms to enhance the scheme’s efficiency and effectiveness.

    The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Billy Osawaru, who highlighted the need to address persistent issues affecting the NHIS and Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) across the country.

    The House mandated the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to work with its Committee on Healthcare Services to evaluate the scheme’s impact on healthcare delivery in Nigeria, identify challenges, and suggest suitable solutions.

    While presenting the motion, Osawaru noted that the NHIS was originally established to provide Nigerians with access to quality healthcare and protect families from financial hardship arising from medical bills.

    He explained that the NHIS Act was replaced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act, 2022, which mandates health insurance coverage for all Nigerians and legal residents, aiming to achieve universal health coverage.

    He emphasised that the NHIA Act provides a legal framework for a comprehensive, affordable, and accessible healthcare system, with the core objectives of promoting, regulating, and integrating health insurance schemes across the country.

    Read Also: 2024 enrolment in NHIS highest ever, says Pate

    According to him, NHIS contracts Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) to provide healthcare services to beneficiaries, including federal and state government employees, private sector workers, and other Nigerians. These HMOs, in turn, contract hospitals and clinics to deliver care to enrollees.

    He said, “Despite its potential, the NHIS and HMOs have faced numerous challenges, including low coverage, inadequate funding and inefficient service delivery, as many Nigerians continue to face significant barriers in accessing quality healthcare due to financial constraints and inadequate healthcare infrastructure

    “Despite efforts to increase coverage and improve the welfare sought quality healthcare delivery, only about 5% of Nigerians are enrolled in the NHIS and the said 5% are facing numerous challenges such as poor-quality services, limited access to medications as beneficiaries complain about out-of-stock medications or lack of quality medications and high incidence of out-of-pocket payments despite being insured.”

    He said further that despite the efforts of the government to adequately back the NHIS, its funding is generally considered inadequate, and this causes delay in payment to healthcare providers (hospitals/clinics) by Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), and this in turn affects the quality of services rendered to beneficiaries.

    He said as a result of delays in payment to healthcare providers by HMOs, the hospitals and clinic who render these services now choose to play with the health of the citizens by choosing the kind, quality or rate of drugs they administer to NHIS subscriber, limit them to a particular doctor or general practitioners even when one requires to see a consultant, limit the kind of X-rays, scan test to do, and above all, the beneficiary or subscriber of NHIS will not be covered to for some surgeries as low as Cesarean Section (CS) in child-birth and Appendectomy (to remove appendix).

    He said if the Challenges of NHIS and HMOs are not addressed, Nigerians who are the beneficiaries will continue to face barriers in accessing quality healthcare services, exacerbating health disparities and forcing out-of-pocket payment for healthcare services which will Increase financial hardship. 

  • 2024 enrolment in NHIS highest ever, says Pate

    2024 enrolment in NHIS highest ever, says Pate

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has said the past one year witnessed the highest enrolment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) than any other year since the establishment of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

    The minister said 2.4 million Nigerians embraced health insurance within the past year, bringing the total number of Nigerians covered to 19.6 million.

    Read Also: Old habits die hard, Onoh replies ex-NHIS boss

    He said the rising number of registrants underscored the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s verifiable commitment to universal health care access nationwide.

    Prof. Pate spoke after chairing the Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), alongside health sector chief executives yesterday in Abuja.

  • Reps seek review of NHIS medical price list

    Reps seek review of NHIS medical price list

    The House of Representatives has asked its relevant committees to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure a comprehensive review of the price list for medicine and Medicare under the National Health Insurance Scheme

     This followed a motion of national public importance sponsored by Prof. Paul S. Nramchi and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere on the urgent need to review the National Health Insurance Scheme’s medicines price list given the Nation’s present economic situation.

     The Enugu lawmaker said the safety and well-being of Nigerians are of paramount concern to this legislative body, hitherto the People’s House, adding that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was established by Act 35 of 2022 to serve as a critical lifeline for millions of our citizens is envisioned to providing access to affordable, essential and quality healthcare services and medicines for all Nigerians.

    Read Also: Reps to probe alleged inefficiency in NHIS operations

    He said the Nigerian nation was presently grappling with economic hardship, inflationary pressures, and rising costs of living, which have had a profound impact on the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services and medications for many of our citizens, particularly the vulnerable and marginalised segments of society.

    He said the existing medicines price list under the HIS framework no longer aligns with the current market dynamics and cost structures of pharmaceutical products as the last NHIS Price list review was in 2021 when the exchange rate was between 400- 420 NGN to 1 USD as against the current official rate of 1,594.34 NGN to 1USD.

    According to him, many vulnerable patients especially the marginalized segments of society are finding it increasingly difficult to get essential and quality medications in the health management organizations (HMOs), leading to adverse health outcomes and exacerbating the burden of illness on our healthcare system.

    He said if no urgent action is taken, loss of lives will continue to deepen, while the economic devastation to the nation continues to increase while saying it is imperative to address this pressing issue without delay and take proactive steps to ensure that our NHIS remains effective in fulfilling its mandate of providing quality healthcare services to Nigerians.

  • Stakeholders want NHIS reorganised

    Stakeholders have suggested how to make the beleaguered National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to achieve its mandate.

    The scheme, which has been in comatose for some time, does not have a substantive Executive Secretary (ES). The last ES, Prof. Yusuf Usman, is on indefinite suspension for some allegations.

    Besides, the scheme’s Governing Council led by Dr. Eyantu Ifenne has been technically set aside by the government over its crisis with the ES. The council had accused Usman of committing some infractions. It suspended him to face probe.

    Read Also: FG to expand NHIS, says VP

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), which probed Usman, has since turned in its report with far-fetching recommendations which the government was yet to act upon.

    Stakeholders said the country is fast losing ground in its efforts to ensure that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as it is globally accepted that the provision of health insurance is the only way to go if the country is to attain UHC.

  • South East APC demand Reps Speaker

    The South East All Progressives Congress, APC, Youths Consultative Forum, has called on the leadership of the All Progress Congress to zone the position of speaker to them.

    Sir Romanus Oguleme, National Coordinator of the South East APC youths group, told journalists in Abuja that the zone has credible and ranking members of the party in the National Assembly to head any of the two chambers.

    According to him, the zone should not be schemed out in the National Assembly leadership as was experienced in 2019.

    He said zoning the speaker to the East was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of inclusive government.

    “The excuse in 2015 that South East APC didn’t have ranking members to be considered for positions of principal officers cannot be used again as the region has two returning members in the House.

    “We categorically state that the South East has two ranking members of the APC and these two: chairman House Committee on Healthcare Services, Hon. Chike Okafor and chairperson House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeocha are eminently qualified to run for Speaker or to be appointed as principal officers.” Oguleme said.

    He further stated :
    “If the performance of both members in the 8th Assembly should be used as criteria, they have proven themselves capable of handling delicate and sensitive assignments.

    “Just as the Hon. Okafor led the Healthcare Services Committee in effectively performing its oversight functions on the health sector, with many Nigerians still remembering the highly publicised probe into the alleged N351 billion fraud in the NHIS as well as stakeholders’ commendation of the House sub-committee of Primary Healthcare Care revitalization, Hon. Onyejeocha performed creditably well in leading her committee in ensuring a good standard of efficiency in the aviation sector”,
    The group said in its statement.

    According to the group, Okafor, who represents Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo federal constituency of Imo State, and who was a former Commissioner for Finance in Imo State, has requisite experience having worked in a bank for many years before joining politics.

    When contacted, the lawmaker confirmed that he was interested in contesting for Speaker.

    He said he has aligned himself with the call that the South-East deserved to be supported to having positions in the leadership of the National Assembly.

    His words: “The 9th House needs a Speaker and a leadership that is experienced and competent.

    “We need leadership that has and will display integrity, but we must also strike a balance in terms of geo-political representation in the leadership of the National Assembly.

    “This is why I fully support any call for a South East Speakership”.

    On if the South-East would accept a position in the leadership of the National Assembly, if the APC fails to zone Speakership to it, the lawmaker said that decisions on such issues are taken as events unfold.

    “The party will come up with its zoning arrangement and as a loyal party man, whose loyalty has remained unshaken even in difficult times, I will decide my next move based on the directives of my party.

    “However, I believe that zoning the office of Speaker or even positions of leadership in the House to the South East, will go a long way in repositioning and strengthening the APC in the region.

    “Our party needs high ranking members of government to reposition the party in my region and as I have done in the last four years, i am willing to play a role in making APC strong in Igbo land”, he said.

    In the outgoing House, Hon. Okafor was considered for the position of Whip but he was later denied the position because he was not yet a ranking member and was given Health Committee chairmanship because of his commitment and dedication to the APC.

  • Better late than never on NHIS

    After more than one year of dithering over the retention of Usman Yusuf, a professor of medicine, as executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Muhammadu Buhari presidency has finally suspended the embattled appointee and ordered that he be investigated for alleged serial infractions that prompted protests against his leadership. The suspension order, dated October 30, 2018 and coming from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), added that a seven-man panel had been constituted to look into the allegations against him. The panel is expected to submit its report in two weeks.

    But shortly before the statement from the SGF office, Prof Yusuf, exasperated by the controversy surrounding his headship of the agency and feeling quite beleaguered, decided to seek judicial interpretation regarding the powers of the Health minister and the NHIS Governing Council to suspend him or even discipline him. The suit was registered probably a few hours before the SGF’s statement on the same issue hit the public. Even though the presidency has now stepped in, the NHIS boss is unlikely to withdraw his suit partly because in tone and logic, it seems to agree with the position of the presidency on the powers and limits of governing boards of agencies and parastatals. Prof Yusuf should have taken this judicial option much earlier, perhaps last year when he began to dispute the powers of the Health minister.

    In July 2017, acting on widespread discontent against the leadership style of Prof Yusuf, the Health minister, Isaac Adewole, a professor of medicine, had ordered the suspension of the NHIS executive secretary. The minister probably apprised the then acting president, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with the measures he was about to take. The NHIS boss threw a tantrum at the time, but he eventually but reluctantly vacated office. In February 2018, 2018, however, the presidency summarily reinstated him without so much as seeking to carry the Health minister along. It was obvious that though the presidency was in a quandary over the weighty allegations levelled against the NHIS boss, they still believed that no one but the presidency had the power to suspend or investigate their appointee. They should have come clean and stopped pussyfooting on a matter they apparently had a clear and fixed opinion.

    The presidency could still have gone away with their hesitations and doublespeak had the NHIS boss not stoked controversy again and again after his recall. Citing serial malfeasances against him a second time, the NHIS governing council again ordered the suspension of Prof Yusuf on October 19. In a strongly worded statement, the chairperson of the council, Ifenne Enyanatu, claimed to have had the backing of the Health minister to order the suspension of Prof Yusuf for violating procurement laws and dishing out contracts without regard to extant regulations. This time, with the president around, Prof Yusuf resisted the suspension and got policemen to escort him back into his office. The situation became very messy, with insinuations flying around suggesting that the presidency’s anti-graft war was imperilled and the president himself nepotistic.

    It was partly to quieten the rage of the public that the SGF, Boss Mustapha, at a retreat late October, insisted that governing boards of federal agencies had no legal or constitutional powers to discipline erring chief executives of agencies appointed by the president. It undoubtedly sounded logical. But NHIS labour union leaders in turn argued that suspension and investigation do not amount to removal. The back and forth over who was right or wrong may explain why Prof Yusuf headed to the courts to seek judicial interpretation. However, neither the NHIS council, nor the unions, nor the Health ministry, nor yet the presidency acted fast and sensibly enough to ensure that rumours and insinuations did not muddy the waters in NHIS. In particular, until it took certain steps on October 30, 2018, the presidency also acted mala fide. It should have taken ownership of the controversy when it first broke, taken firm control of the process of finding a resolution, acknowledged the malfeasances of the NHIS boss rather than appear to defend and back him, and taken the right steps to restore sanity to the embattled agency.

    The presidency was clear where its powers started and ended, and where the authority of boards also started and ended. It did not need more than a year of confusion and hesitations to come to the point where it has now ordered Prof Yusuf’s suspension and constituted a panel to investigate the allegations against the controversial executive secretary. Prof Yusuf may be an accomplished medical practitioner with global experience, but he gave no indications whatsoever by his haughty demeanour, insensitivity to NHIS staff and matters, and insubordination and foul language, that he was a sound administrator able to command the respect and loyalty of his staff. His imperial carriage grated badly with both staff and unions, not to say with the Health ministry and NHIS governing council. Had he taken a cue from his first suspension, remedied his faults, and restored confidence in his leadership, no further controversy would have been stoked, let alone attract a second suspension. He may win his case in the courts, especially given the government’s concurring interpretation of the limited powers of presidential appointees, but it remains to be seen how he would be exculpated from the procurement breaches alleged against him, or how he could regain the confidence of the staff and unions of the NHIS.

    Regardless of the outcome of the legal action he belatedly instituted against the Health minister, Justice minister and NHIS governing council, Prof Yusuf’s reign at the NHIS has come to an inglorious and ignominious end. Neither he nor the presidency can force him on the NHIS staff and unions who view his administration scornfully. He had carried himself with pointless arrogance before the staff of the agency, and insulted his way upstairs to the Health ministry and governing council. There will be no peace in the agency should he be reinstated, for even as adamant as the Buhari presidency can sometimes be, its officials doubtless understand the futility of foisting a peevish boss on intransigent staff. They will not dare stake the battered image of the presidency on a person and on an issue that promise very little political or even economic returns.

    It was not only Prof Yusuf that mismanaged the misunderstanding; the presidency is also guilty, by its desultory response to the crisis and by its lack of surefootedness, of accentuating the disharmony in the NHIS. The presidency does not have a great track record of resolving administrative squabbles, and finds it even more difficult to put to rest lingering doubts about its capacity to handle ethnic suspicions and rivalries among Nigeria’s sometimes fiercely competing groups. Yet, in politics, an elected government must summon the adeptness to mediate group wrangling and convince a vast majority of the people that its policies and style are respectively truly altruistic and pragmatic. Nigerians did not get the impression that in tackling the NHIS controversy the presidency acted with dispatch, wisdom and fairness. They must now hope that the government’s belated step in addressing the needless NHIS crisis is sufficient to put the matter to a noble rest. The onus is always on the government to quickly right wrongs, particularly in the face of academicians in government whose administrative awkwardness puts the presidency in an embarrassing position.

  • Suspended NHIS Boss drags Ministers, NHIS to court

    Professor Usman Yusuf, the embattled Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has dragged two ministers and NHIS to a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his suspension from office.

    In the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018, Yusuf instituted legal action against the Honourable Minister of Health, and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the NHIS.

    The six-page summons was filed by Chief Uchechukwu Obi (SAN) of Alliance Law Firm, Abuja, on behalf of the plaintiff.

    According to the document made available to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the respondents are expected to cause appearance within 21 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of service.

    The summons read in part thus: “The plaintiff prayed whether the Governing Council of the NHIS has the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act, particularly Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, to suspend or remove from office the plaintiff who was appointed by the President.

    “Whether the Governing Council of NHIS has the powers under the provision of NHIS Act to discipline the plaintiff or to investigate allegations made against him as purported by their internal memorandum dated Oct.19, 2018.

    “Whether the Hon. Minister of Health under the NHIS Act Section 47 of the Act is equipped with the statutory powers to authorise the suspension from office of the ES of NHIS without the approval of the President.

    “Whether the decision of the Governing Council to suspend the ES of the NHIS taken by 4 out of 11 members of the Council can be said to be a decision of the council in accordance with the NHIS Act.

    Read Also: Buhari orders NHIS boss to proceed on administrative leave

    “Whether the Governing Council can appoint the General Manager, Legal Department, or any other employee of the scheme to oversee the affairs of the scheme in acting capacity without the approval of the President,’’ among others.

    Yusuf therefore prayed the court to determine all the aforementioned questions in his favour and consequently sought for the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the Governing Council of NHIS lacks powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend or remove the plaintiff who was appointed by the President for a five year term.

    “A declaration that the members of the council lacks the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act to discipline, or set up the machinery to discipline the plaintiff or investigate allegations made against him as purported by the internal memorandum dated October 19.

    “A declaration that the internal memorandum dated October 19 which was purportedly issued by the council and signed on their behalf by its Chairman in which it purported to have suspended the plaintiff as the ES of NHIS is ultra Vires, null and void and of no effect.

    “An order of court setting aside and cancelling the purported suspension of the plaintiff from office as the ES of NHIS.

    “An order of court reinstating the plaintiff as the ES of the NHIS.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their members, servants, employees, agents, officers or any person from disturbing, obstructing the plaintiff from carrying on his official duties as the ES of the NHIS,’’ among others.

    A copy of the summons was stamped received by the NHIS head office in Abuja on Oct. 30.

    The case is yet to be assigned for date for mention to be fixed.

    News Agency Of Nigeria recalls that Yusuf was first suspended by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, on July 6, 2017, over alleged maladministration, but was recalled by the Presidency on Feb. 6, 2018.

    Again, the Governing Council of NHIS led by Mrs Ifenne Enyanatu, later slammed an indefinite suspension on Yusuf on Oct. 18 over similar allegations of fraud.

    The latest action prompted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, to advise members of boards and governing councils at a retreat that they do not have powers to suspend or meet disciplinary actions on chief executives without recourse to due diligence.

    On Tuesday (Oct. 31), the Presidency asked Yusuf to proceed on administrative leave to allow unfettered investigations of the allegations leveled against him.

    It appointed Mr Ben Omogo, Director, Administration Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Federation to oversee the affairs of the scheme.

    The government also instituted a 7-man panel led by Dr Hassan Bukar, and Mrs Jummai Idako from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary, to probe and report their findings within two weeks for appropriate action.

  • Okon set to take over NHIS and naked women in Abuja

    With the ugly drama at the NHIS in Abuja snowballing into an ethnic melee, Okon has drawn up a comprehensive plan to take over the troubled agency. A day after escaping political assassination in the hands of irate Arogbo-Ijaw nationalists canvassing for the immediate restructuring of the country, Okon began banging the bedroom door.

    “Oga, I wan quickly reach dem Abuja and dem National Hell Insurance Scam, make man kill two stones with one bird, as dem Yoruba people for Ilasamaja  dey say”, the mad boy opened with a strange gusto. It was seven in the morning and Okon was already reeking of Burukutu and ancillary illicit beverages.

    “Meaning what?” snooper snarled

    “Oga, dem problem for National Hell Insurance Scam be say dem greedy Yoruba and Ibo people no allow mala to finish eating before dem come begin to shout and to torment trouble. Mala never whack reach four billion and dem come dey shout. Life na eat and let eat. Or as dem Ibo dey say, biri kem biri. Live and let live. So I go take the rest money and ask dem ALMB people to take over dem building”, the mad boy snorted.

    “What is ALMB?” snooper asked in alarm.

    “Ambazona Liberation Movement of Bakassi”, the boy replied point blank.

    “I see. After you ran away from Egbesu boys?” snooper jeered.

    “Ha oga, dat one he get as he be. Na juju  come pass juju. Dem Egbesu come send dem big wasp which come strike man for forehead. Naim I come pick race and I come reach Iba and dem LASU for UNILAG. My head still dey cry even now. Na dem PDP and dem APC send dem Ijaw boys. We don ask make dem Ineck  deregister dem for campaign violence but dem say na only soldier party go remain after dat”, the crazy boy chanted breathlessly.

    “So how are you going to cope with police tear-gas?” snooper demanded.

    “Ha, Oga, solution dey for tear gas. You see that sack I dey carry? Na dem leaves from dem plant dem Yoruba dey call efinrin. When dem godogodo police fire dem tear gas, just put efinrin into your korokoro eye and na police go run”, the mad boy sneered.

    “What is your other business in Abuja?”

    “Ah oga dat one na serious business. He get one Ijebu woman like dat and him say he wan go demonstrate naked naked for Abuja over dem primary. Him go meet Okon naked naked for Abuja. So when naked man come jam naked woman for public, na iron lady come meet iron bender be dat. After dat she no go go Abuja again”, the mad boy sniggered and began a most suggestive dance. Snooper promptly drove him out of the room.