6th October, 2026 | News

Rivers State Seals 21 Health Facilities, Arrests Three Over Alleged Quackery

The Rivers State Ministry of Health has sealed 21 health facilities and arrested three persons over alleged quackery, unregistered medical practice and other regulatory violations across four local government areas.

The enforcement operation was carried out in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas as part of the state government’s renewed crackdown on illegal and substandard healthcare practices.

The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health and Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed the development on Monday during the ministry’s third-quarter 2026 press briefing in Port Harcourt.

According to Wachukwu, the affected facilities comprised eight hospitals, five maternity centres and eight diagnostic centres.

He said the enforcement action followed surveillance reports indicating that more than 150 health facilities were operating without registration or adequate supervision by the ministry.

Wachukwu also revealed that only about 20 per cent of registered health facilities were complying with the mandatory annual inspection and renewal of their Certificates of Standards.

19 Facilities Operating Without Registration

The Permanent Secretary said 19 of the 21 facilities sealed were operating without registration and below the minimum standards prescribed by the Rivers State Government.

He added that one registered facility was also found to be operating below the required standard because no licensed health worker, including a doctor or nurse, was present during a random inspection.

Facilities affected by the enforcement exercise included Manda Clinic, Elelenwo; Vasty Clinic, Omoku; Danny Clinic; Daba Clinic; Kambel Hospital, Abara-Etche; Havilla Hospital, Igwuruta; Golden Era Hospital, Igwuruta; and Ola-Oluwa Medical Centre, Igwuruta.

Manda Clinic Linked to Child Trafficking Allegations

The ministry also conducted a joint operation with the Rivers State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at Manda Clinic and Maternity in Elelenwo following allegations of child trafficking.

Wachukwu said the operation was launched after allegations that a Liberian national had reportedly disclosed the procurement of three children from the facility within a month.

He said investigations showed that the facility was unregistered and operating without licensed medical practitioners.

The operators were arrested by NAPTIP, while the Ministry of Health sealed the premises pending further investigation.

Man Arrested Over Alleged Illegal Medical Practice

At Havilla Hospital in Igwuruta, inspectors reportedly discovered that the facility was unregistered and being operated by a man identified as Isaac.

Isaac allegedly told officials that he underwent medical training in Ukraine in 2013. However, Wachukwu said he had no licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and was practising without the required supervision.

He was arrested and is expected to be referred to the MDCN for further action.

Ola-Oluwa Operator Arrested

Ola-Oluwa Medical Centre was also sealed after its operator, identified as Sunday Ogundele, was allegedly found to have no medical training or licence.

Wachukwu said Ogundele was operating the facility from his family residence and was subsequently arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution over alleged impersonation.

Meanwhile, Kambel Hospital and Golden Era Hospital were shut after inspectors reportedly found that neither facility had a licensed doctor or nurse operating there.

Ministry Takes Regulatory Approach to Traditional Birth Facility

Wachukwu said the ministry adopted a regulatory rather than punitive approach toward Sarah Maternity at Belema Polo, Enugu Waterside, Borokiri, operated by a popular social media traditional birth attendant influencer.

According to him, the facility had more than 1,000 women on its patient register and recorded daily traffic of more than 200 women.

He said officials used the inspection to establish practice guidelines, supervision requirements and appropriate advertising standards for the facility.

The operator was issued an official warning and designated as a contact point for other traditional birth attendants and maternity facilities on proper supervision and training.

Rivers Begins 2026 Enforcement Drive

Wachukwu said 16 other facilities sealed during the operation were unregistered and operating below the minimum standards stipulated under the Rivers State Facility Registration Law No. 2 of 2019.

He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to eliminating quackery and unregistered health facilities across the state.

The Permanent Secretary directed all registered healthcare facilities to prominently display their Certificates of Standards to enable residents to verify their compliance.

He also urged residents and organisations to seek medical care only from facilities with verified certificates and to report suspected cases of quackery or unsafe medical practices to the Ministry of Health.

Wachukwu further announced the commencement of the 2026 enforcement drive against facilities that fail to comply with mandatory annual inspection and certificate renewal requirements.

He commended security agencies and relevant professional bodies for supporting the campaign to improve healthcare standards and protect residents across Rivers State.