Insecurity

Abuja, November 8, 2026 (www.crestnewsonline.ng) A Nigerian healthcare professional based in the United States (US), Mrs Nkechi Eze, says persistent insecurity in Nigeria remains the major reason she has stayed away from the country for years in spite of her desire to reunite with family and loved ones.

Eze, who spoke with www.crestnewsonline.ng on security, healthcare delivery and electoral credibility, said fears of kidnapping, violent attacks and unsafe roads had made returning to Nigeria a difficult decision, particularly as a wife and mother.

“My absence from the country does not reflect a diminished love for Nigeria, but it is a responsibility to protect her family from avoidable risks,” she said.

The healthcare professional who is daughter of the renowned Barrister Amobi Nzelu of the Apo Six trial, expressed particular concern over attacks on medical personnel, noting that health workers should not face threats of kidnapping or death while providing essential services to the public.

“Insecurity has continued to undermine healthcare delivery, as patients are sometimes unable to access hospitals at night, medical personnel face difficulties reaching their workplaces, and emergency referrals are delayed by unsafe roads and transportation challenges.

“Such delays can have devastating consequences for pregnant women, accident victims and other patients requiring urgent medical attention,” she noted.

Eze said addressing insecurity required sustained and practical measures, including improved intelligence-gathering, stronger cooperation among security agencies, effective local policing, credible investigations and speedy prosecution of offenders.

She also called for respect for human rights, improved employment opportunities and fair resolution of disputes, stating that security efforts must be measured by their impact on the daily lives of citizens.

Comparing Nigeria with the US, Eze said the difference was not the absence of crime but the greater sense of predictability and confidence in public institutions.

She maintained that Nigerians deserved to enjoy similar freedom to travel, work, visit relatives and access healthcare without constant fear or dependence on private security.

On electoral credibility, Eze said her voting experience in the U.S. had been orderly, transparent and characterised by ballot privacy and verifiable procedures.

She expressed concern over allegations of violence and electoral malpractice in Nigeria, while cautioning that individual claims of rigging must be investigated and established through evidence.

“Public confidence in elections can only be strengthened when electoral institutions provide transparent explanations, credible verification processes and reliable access to evidence.”

Eze said credible elections could promote accountability by enabling citizens to reward or remove leaders based on their performance, particularly in security and public service delivery.

She however noted that elections alone could not resolve Nigeria’s security and healthcare challenges without effective governance, adequate funding, improved working conditions and enforcement of laws.

Eze also expressed support for diaspora voting, saying Nigerians living abroad should be allowed to participate in elections, provided there were clear regulations, secure voter registration, effective identity verification and transparent vote-counting.

On healthcare emergencies, Eze explained that emergency departments in the US were required to screen and stabilise patients regardless of their immediate ability to pay, even though subsequent bills could apply.

She urged Nigeria to strengthen emergency healthcare systems to ensure that access to urgent treatment was not delayed by financial constraints, transportation difficulties or the inability to find functional medical facilities.

“Nigeria’s progress depends on building dependable institutions, protecting citizens and ensuring that government policies translate into measurable improvements in people’s lives,” Eze said.(www.crestnewsonline.ng)

*Edited by Olawale Lawanson Alabi