Honestly, Abuja’s public hospitals are kind of a nightmare right now. I keep hearing stories from friends who just avoid going there unless it’s a huge emergency. It seems like the main problem is that the government hasn’t really kept up with how quickly Abuja’s population is growing. Like, a lot of hospitals were built when not as many people lived here, but now the city is exploding, and the old plans just don’t work anymore.

I read that politicians talk about healthcare being a right but don’t follow through with enough money or new laws to make sure the hospitals can actually run well. A bunch of doctors and nurses are leaving to work overseas for better pay, so it’s even harder for the people still working here. My aunt is a nurse at National Hospital, and she says they’re short-staffed and exhausted all the time. Plus, government rules about funding are strict, and the money often gets tied up in paperwork instead of being used where it’s needed right away. It’s honestly sad, because regular people pay the price, waiting hours just to see a doctor or not even getting beds when they need them.