Delta Monarch Slams Nigeria’s Health Failures, Demands Action On Disease Eradication
By PAULINA NZERUBE
NIGERIA marked 65 years of independence still battling diseases long considered conquerable. For the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge, this is not just disappointing — it is shameful.
Hosting Dr. Joachim Ajakaiye, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR), the monarch delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s inability to tackle basic health challenges such as river blindness, sleeping sickness, and malaria, despite decades of promises and abundant resources.
“We Are an Unserious Nation”
The Asagba recalled that NITR was established as far back as 1947 to combat diseases like trypanosomiasis, yet nearly 80 years later, eradication remains elusive. While malaria continues to claim lives, successes in disease control, he argued, have often come only through the intervention of foreign donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“The money we fritter away through corruption is far more than what Bill Gates brings to Nigeria,” he said. “Why must we rely on donors to address basic issues? We are rich enough in both human and natural resources to take care of our challenges.”
The monarch urged the NITR chief to rise above bureaucracy and demonstrate true leadership: “From 1947 till date, we shouldn’t still be talking about eradication — we should be talking about total elimination.”
A Call for Research and Responsibility
Drawing comparisons with Europe and the U.S., where governments aggressively invest in research against cancer and other diseases, the Asagba lamented that Nigerian leaders often glorify titles instead of tackling responsibilities.
“What matters is not the title of office, but what you achieve on the saddle,” he said, challenging Dr. Ajakaiye to leave a lasting legacy by pushing the institute towards concrete results.
NITR’s Response: A New Hope in Asaba
In response, Dr. Ajakaiye acknowledged the concerns and outlined NITR’s ongoing efforts. The institute, headquartered in Kaduna with zonal offices across Nigeria, has carried out extensive interventions against African Trypanosomiasis in Delta State.
He revealed plans to establish a Diagnostic Centre at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, in partnership with the state’s Ministry of Science and Technology. The centre, he said, would be constructed, equipped, and staffed by NITR, serving as a hub for early diagnosis, job creation, and cost reduction in healthcare delivery.
The Bigger Picture
The exchange between the monarch and the NITR boss underscores a wider frustration: Nigeria’s struggle to move from rhetoric to results. While the country celebrates marginal gains and donor-driven projects, leaders like the Asagba demand accountability, urgency, and homegrown solutions.
For him, the lesson is clear: Nigeria must stop circling the same problems and start investing in sustainable, independent health solutions — before history records another wasted generation.
