Insuring the Elite, Abandoning the Sick: Nigeria’s Shameful Healthcare Hypocrisy under Tinubu-led Government

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In a nation where hospitals are crumbling, medications are priced beyond the reach of the average citizen and thousands are dying in silence, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a life insurance scheme not for the vulnerable poor not for the overworked doctors or underpaid civil servants, but for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and top government officials who already enjoy the most luxurious Healthcare often abroad and at public expense(imagine oo). This move is not only insensitive; it is an insult to the Nigerian people(better insult).

Let us examine the harsh reality faced by millions of ordinary Nigerians daily. The cost of basic medication has exploded under this administration. A common antibiotic like Augmentin, used for respiratory and bacterial infections, has become a luxury. Lonart and Coartem, used to treat malaria a disease responsible for 23% of under-five child deaths in Nigeria (UNICEF, 2023) have doubled and tripled in price.

A vial of insulin, once sold for ₦5,650, now goes for ₦12,500. Patients with diabetes, if they are not already suffering from complications now face death simply because their monthly medication is no longer affordable. Hypertension drugs are also out of reach for many, pushing people to rely on dangerous local concoctions and unregulated herbal remedies. Unsurprisingly, stroke-related deaths have increased, according to reports from the Nigerian Cardiac Society in 2024.

Asthma patients, too are gasping for air literally. Inhalers, which were ₦8,000 just a few months ago, now cost ₦22,900. Cancer patients are not spared. The cost of Zoladex injections, used in breast and prostate cancer treatment, has skyrocketed from ₦60,000 to ₦145,570 even as high as ₦200,000 in some states. Herceptin, a life-saving breast cancer drug, now goes for over ₦600,000, up from ₦300,000. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions, once subsidized in some hospitals, now cost up to ₦1 million per session.

Yet in the face of this national health emergency, the same government that cannot fund teaching hospitals or enforce price control on essential drugs is spending public funds to insure the lives of leaders who already enjoy world-class treatment in Dubai, the UK and Germany.

Why not ordinary Nigerians?

It is time we asked the hard questions: Why is a government that has failed to deliver affordable healthcare prioritizing life insurance for the elite? What exactly are they insuring their lives against? The very hunger and poverty their policies have unleashed?

Even the late Chinua Achebe warned us when he wrote: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” We now see that failure play out in its ugliest form, where the political class insulates itself from the chaos it creates.

Healthcare in Crisis

Nigeria’s healthcare system ranks 163rd out of 191 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The average Nigerian cannot access primary healthcare services without selling personal belongings or borrowing at exploitative interest rates. Over 90% of the population lack access to health insurance, as revealed by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in 2023. This means they pay out-of-pocket for drugs, tests, and procedures in a country where over 63% live in multidimensional poverty, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Doctors are fleeing the country in droves. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) estimates that over 17,000 doctors have emigrated to the UK, US, Canada and Saudi Arabia since 2019, leaving just one doctor to 10,000 patients a ratio far below the WHO’s recommended 1:600.

Rather than declare a state of emergency in the health sector, the government is insuring the lives of a select few. It is a shame.

A Class Apart

Top government officials, from ministers to DGs and legislators already benefit from:

State-funded international medical trips

Generous health allowances

Access to exclusive private clinics

Pensions and perks that rival those of presidents abroad

Now, we are adding life insurance to this long list of entitlements while common citizens die in silence?

This is not just mismanagement. This is cruelty.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.” Nigeria has not just crossed that line, it has obliterated it.

Fake Drugs, Real Deaths

The desperation created by unaffordable healthcare has opened a floodgate of fake and substandard drugs. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) reported in 2024 that 15% of medications in Nigerian markets are counterfeit, especially life-saving drugs like insulin, antibiotics and malaria treatments. These fake drugs don’t just fail to cure; they kill.

And yet, there is no national drug subsidy programme. No emergency intervention. No structured relief for the poor. Just silence.

Where is the Ministry of Health? Where is the President?

The Moral Outrage

Nigerians are not asking for too much. We want life, not life insurance for the already privileged. We want subsidized drugs, not contracts for phantom hospital upgrades. We want policies that put people first not policies designed to protect the political elite from the consequences of their own governance.

The same government that cannot fix hospitals wants to insure the lives of those who never use those hospitals. It reeks of hypocrisy.

We must demand answers.

Why didn’t this insurance scheme extend to:

Frontline health workers?

Vulnerable groups like widows, retirees and persons with disabilities?

Victims of Boko Haram, banditry and herdsmen violence?

Why must a Nigerian who earns ₦50,000 monthly spend ₦22,900 on asthma medication or risk suffocating?

Why must someone battling cancer sell all they own while their leaders receive insurance packages for doing nothing but failing?

It is time to shout.

The government must be reminded that public service is not a privilege; it is a duty.

What Needs to Be Done

Reverse the Insurance Scheme: Public outrage must force a reversal of this insensitive scheme until every Nigerian has access to affordable healthcare.

Establish Drug Subsidy Programs: The government must subsidize essential medications immediately and especially for cancer, diabetes, hypertension and infectious diseases.

Reinforce the NHIA: The National Health Insurance Authority must expand coverage to include all low-income earners, retirees, and the unemployed.

Crack Down on Fake Drugs: A nationwide sweep of counterfeit drug networks must be coordinated, backed with international partnerships and new legislation.

Invest in Health Infrastructure: Nigeria’s public hospitals must be equipped, staffed and funded starting with federal and teaching hospitals.

Final Word

A nation that refuses to care for its sick, but rushes to protect its elite with life insurance, is not a democracy, but a plantation. Let this not just be another news item. Let it be a call to action.

Because health is not a privilege, it is a right.

And if our leaders cannot recognize that, then perhaps they are not fit to lead us.

Tragedy in Mushin: One Dead, Three Injured as Building Collapses in Idi Araba

LAGOS — One construction worker has been confirmed dead and three others injured following the collapse of a one-storey building under construction at Idi Araba in the Mushin area of Lagos State on Sunday afternoon.

The tragic incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. at 96 Ishaga Road, directly opposite the Idi Araba Central Mosque. The building, still at the construction stage, crumbled unexpectedly, trapping workers beneath the rubble.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos Territorial Office, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the fatality in a brief statement.

“So far, one person has been confirmed dead, while three others have been rescued alive. Search and rescue operations are ongoing,” Farinloye said.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also corroborated the casualty report. Its spokesperson, Shakiru Amodu, confirmed the recovery of the deceased worker’s body during rescue operations.

Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, stated that emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene following a distress call and were able to pull out three adult male victims who sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“The rescued victims received emergency care at the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment by the Lagos State Ambulance Service,” Adeseye added.

Rescue teams from multiple agencies including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nigeria Police, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Isolo Fire Station were mobilised to the site for the joint operation.

The cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, but investigations are expected to follow once recovery operations are concluded.

Building collapses have become a recurring issue in Lagos, often attributed to poor construction practices, substandard materials, or failure to adhere to approved building plans. Sunday’s incident adds to a growing list of such tragedies in the state.

Authorities have urged developers to adhere strictly to safety regulations to avoid further loss of lives.

*Amadi Lawrence: The Brand Whisperer Behind Starstation’s Creative Renaissance*

Lagos, Nigeria – In a country teeming with talent and ambition, it takes more than just vision to stand out. It takes grit, strategy, and an instinct for storytelling. These are the qualities that define Amadi Lawrence, the dynamic CEO of Starstation, a fast-rising, top-rated management and media company based in Lagos.

For over a decade, Lawrence has been the unseen hand behind some of Nigeria’s most compelling branding, artist development, and content marketing campaigns. From launching new products to repositioning personalities, his work has consistently revolved around one core belief: stories move people—and people build brands.

> “Since 2011, I’ve worked closely with leading organizations, companies, and high-profile individuals,” Lawrence said. “My goal has always been to help them shape their presence and achieve remarkable growth across advertising, marketing, and public relations. It’s not just about visibility—it’s about impact.”

At the heart of this impact is Starstation, the firm he describes as “the brainchild of absolute passion, years of experience, and utmost dedication.” More than just a consultancy, Starstation is a powerhouse of creativity, branding, and strategic management—blending innovative thinking with deep emotional intelligence to help clients tell their stories in a powerful and authentic way.

> “Starstation is a top-rated innovative management company that helps brands and talented artists rediscover their mission, live their core values, and clarify their positioning,” Lawrence explained. “We are creatives who love telling inspiring stories about the brands we serve.”

From artist and event management to business analysis, brand storytelling, and corporate strategy, the firm delivers a wide spectrum of professional services. And with each project, they aim to go beyond the ordinary.

> “We live in a time where common thinking reigns supreme,” Lawrence said. “At Starstation, we challenge that. We value potential over predictability. We exist to reignite the fire within restless brands—to challenge their status quo and stoke their belief in an uncommon future.”

This future-driven philosophy is evident in the company’s track record. Whether crafting compelling content for a campaign, building a disruptive brand identity, or managing an event that leaves a lasting impression, the Starstation team approaches each task with a clarity of purpose—and a hunger to elevate their clients.

Lawrence’s personal journey reflects that same sense of purpose. Having worked in artiste management, content creation, and branding, he has cultivated an instinctive feel for market dynamics and audience psychology.

> “Whether I’m building a brand from scratch or re-energizing an existing one, I always focus on authenticity,” he said. “People can tell when something is real—and when it’s just noise. That’s why our campaigns are built on truth, values, and strategy.”

His style of leadership combines mentorship and innovation. He doesn’t just execute projects—he empowers the people behind them. Many of the talents who passed through Starstation have gone on to build solid, independent brands of their own.

> “I believe in collaboration,” he added. “I believe in helping people discover their voice—and amplifying it. That’s what makes the work fulfilling.”

As the digital landscape evolves, Lawrence continues to embrace new trends while staying grounded in storytelling.

> “The tools may change, but the core remains the same,” he said. “People will always connect to stories, values, and vision. That’s what we deliver—every single time.”

For companies, individuals, and talents seeking to rise above the noise, Starstation is more than a service provider—it’s a creative partner and strategic guide. And at its helm is Amadi Lawrence: a man driven by passion, purpose, and the audacity to imagine a future beyond the ordinary.

> “The future,” he concludes, “belongs to the uncommon. That’s why we’re here—to help brands discover that part of themselves and lead with it.”

As a media partner, Starstation continues to shape the narratives that define success in Nigeria’s ever-evolving creative and corporate space—one brand at a time.