The federal government has announced that nearly 10,000 Nigerians benefited from specialist medical services, surgeries and other healthcare interventions under the 2026 Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative (NDHII).

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Saturday at the National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner and closing ceremony of the 2026 Diaspora Health Impact Initiative held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

Mr Salako said the initiative brought together thousands of Nigerian healthcare professionals in the diaspora who voluntarily returned to the country to provide specialist medical services, conduct surgeries, mentor healthcare workers and support local health systems.

He described the programme as a demonstration of patriotism and an example of how diaspora expertise could help improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

According to him, diaspora medical teams drawn from organisations in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany and South Africa delivered medical interventions across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

Healthcare services

Mr Salako said the initiative provided medical consultations, specialist surgeries, diagnostic services, telemedicine, sickle cell screening and other healthcare interventions to nearly 10,000 Nigerians.

He added that more than 2,000 frontline healthcare workers were trained during the programme to strengthen the country’s capacity to provide quality healthcare after the medical missions ended.

Among the achievements highlighted by the minister were the training of over 1,000 frontline health workers on the Safer Births Bundle of Care in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

He also said more than 4,000 medical consultations and over 500 surgeries were carried out in Enugu, Imo and Abia states.

According to him, advanced interventional radiology, neurosurgery and endoscopy procedures were performed in Lagos, while healthcare workers in Edo State received training on ultrasound-based diagnosis of endometriosis.

He added that telemedicine and primary healthcare services were expanded in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State through the initiative.

Government plans

Mr Salako said the federal government would continue to strengthen engagement with Nigerian health professionals abroad by simplifying licensing procedures, facilitating locum arrangements and supporting customs and visa waivers for medical missions.

He added that the government would also encourage diaspora investment in hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

While acknowledging the migration of Nigerian health professionals, Mr Salako said the Tinubu administration was implementing reforms to improve healthcare financing, infrastructure, workforce welfare, and professional development.

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He urged Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to register on the newly launched Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH) Portal and the Diaspora Health Registry to enable them to contribute more effectively to the country’s health sector.

Mr Salako also called for sustained collaboration through telemedicine, digital health, structured training partnerships, joint clinical research, technology transfer and public-private partnerships.

He commended the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), state governments, development partners and members of the joint planning committee for supporting the successful implementation of the initiative.

The Federal Government has released a three-day weather forecast, warning Nigerians to prepare for thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and the possibility of flash flooding in several parts of the country between Sunday and Tuesday.

The forecast, issued on Sunday by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), predicts a mix of sunshine, cloudy conditions and thunderstorms across the country.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the latest advisory comes just days after the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), warned that 17 states face a high risk of flooding over the next seven days due to rising river levels and continued heavy rainfall.

According to NiMet, the northern region will experience sunny skies with patches of clouds on Sunday morning, while thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rainfall are expected over parts of Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna states. Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rain are forecast for parts of Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba states.

The agency also predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall over parts of Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning in the North-Central region. By the afternoon and evening, rainfall is expected to spread to Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and the FCT.

For the southern region, NiMet said moderate rainfall is expected on Sunday morning over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa states before extending across the entire region later in the day.

On Monday, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are expected in parts of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa and Taraba states during the morning, while Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba and Adamawa are forecast to experience thunderstorms later in the day.

The agency said parts of Niger, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory should also expect moderate rainfall during the morning, with thunderstorms spreading across the North-Central region later in the day. In the South, light rainfall is expected in parts of Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers states during the morning before moderate rainfall extends across the region.

Tuesday’s forecast indicates partly cloudy skies across the northern region during the morning, with chances of light thunderstorms in parts of Bauchi, Jigawa and Yobe states. Moderate rainfall is expected across the region later in the day.

NiMet also predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds across the North-Central region on Tuesday morning before thunderstorms with moderate rainfall develop during the afternoon and evening. In the South, cloudy conditions are expected, with light rainfall forecast over parts of Edo, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states in the morning before moderate rainfall spreads across the region later in the day.

The agency advised Nigerians to take precautions, warning that strong winds could precede thunderstorms. It urged residents to secure loose objects, disconnect electrical appliances during storms and stay away from tall trees to avoid injuries from falling branches or uprooted trees.

NiMet also warned that continuous rainfall along the coastal states could trigger flash floods, advising residents not to drive or walk through flooded roads.

“The expected continuous rains over the coastal areas of the South have good prospects of flash flooding. Avoid driving or wading through floodwaters. Driving under heavy rain should be avoided,” the agency said.

It also urged airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning and encouraged residents to monitor regular weather updates throughout the period.

The latest weather outlook comes shortly after NIHSA warned that Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states are at medium risk of flooding as water levels continue to rise in major rivers. The agency advised residents in flood-prone communities to relocate to safer areas, while emergency agencies were urged to activate response plans and pre-position relief materials ahead of any flooding incidents.