The Rivers State Government has shut down 21 health facilities and arrested three people as part of a renewed crackdown on quackery, unregistered medical practice and other violations of health regulations.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health and Chairman of the State Anti-Quackery Committee, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed this during the ministry’s third-quarter 2026 press briefing in Port Harcourt.
Wachukwu said the affected facilities comprised eight hospitals, five maternity facilities and eight diagnostic centres located across Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Port Harcourt, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Etche Local Government Areas. He said the enforcement followed surveillance reports indicating that more than 150 facilities were operating without registration or proper supervision.
According to him, 19 of the 21 facilities were operating without registration and below the minimum standards prescribed by the state Ministry of Health. One registered facility was also found to be operating below the required standard, including without a licensed doctor or other health professional present during inspection.
Among the facilities affected were Manda Clinic in Elelenwo, Vasty Clinic in Omoku, Danny Clinic and Daba Clinic in Port Harcourt Township, Kambel Hospital in Abara-Etche, as well as Havilla Hospital, Golden Era Hospital and Ola-Oluwa Medical Centre in Igwuruta.
The ministry also disclosed that Manda Clinic and Maternity was investigated in connection with alleged child-trafficking activities. According to Wachukwu, a joint operation with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) followed information that three children were allegedly procured from the facility within a month. The facility was subsequently sealed and its operators arrested by NAPTIP.
Wachukwu further said two other operators were arrested over alleged unlicensed medical practice. One, identified as Isaac, allegedly claimed to have trained as a doctor in Ukraine but did not have a licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, while another operator, Sunday Ogundele, was allegedly running a medical facility without formal medical training or a professional licence.
The state government urged residents to seek treatment only from verified health facilities and advised registered facilities to prominently display their Certificates of Standards so members of the public can confirm their compliance. The ministry also encouraged residents to report suspected cases of quackery and unsafe medical practices.
