Abuja
UniAbuja: MDCN Ups Admission Quota For Medicine By 167% Over Doctor Shortage
UniAbuja: MDCN Ups Admission Quota For Medicine By 167% Over Doctor Shortage
UniAbuja: MDCN ups admission quota for medicine by 167% over doctor shortage. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has significantly increased the admission quota for the University of Abuja’s Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme from 75 to 200 students.
Fatima Kyari, registrar of the MDCN, announced this on the university’s main campus following a re-accreditation exercise conducted by a 17-member MDCN team.
Habib Yakoob, acting director of information and university relations at the University of Abuja, also confirmed the development.
Kyari commended the UniAbuja for its strides in improving facilities but also highlighted areas needing further development.
These include the number and capacity of resource persons, pathology laboratories, transportation, and clinical skills support.
“When we talk about quota, we are referring to the resource-based carrying capacity,” Kyari explained.
“The members of this re-accreditation team are carefully selected professionals, and their assessments were objective, thorough, and constructive.”
She provided a clearer picture of the requirements, stating: “For a quota of 150, you need 450 bed spaces for clinical students, and you currently have 360. For 200, you need 600.
“But we want to align with your growth aspirations. The nation needs more doctors. Abuja is the centre; it should rise to the occasion. So, we are giving you 200.”
Kyari stressed that the council would maintain a strong monitoring presence to ensure continued compliance and would support the university’s efforts in building capacity and infrastructure.
“We are not just here to point out what you have or what is lacking,” she added.
“We are here to encourage the university to keep working toward meeting all requirements.”
The MDCN registrar further noted that the quota upgrade aligns with the federal government’s broader goal of expanding access to medical education and addressing the national shortage of doctors.
She referenced the coordinating minister of health and social welfare’s four-point agenda under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
“At the heart of this is the need to strengthen our healthcare workforce, from training to retention, as the engine for achieving universal health coverage and improved health outcomes for all Nigerians,” Kyari said.
“Our task was guided by existing standards, including infrastructure adequacy, faculty strength, student-to-resource ratio, clinical training exposure, and the overall governance structure of the medical school.
“We also recognise the presidential vision and the current national imperative to scale up training in response to health workforce shortages, but this must be done in a manner that safeguards patient safety and professional competence.”
In response, Patricia Manko Lar, the acting vice-chancellor, expressed immense gratitude to the MDCN for the re-accreditation exercise.

UniAbuja: MDCN Ups Admission Quota For Medicine
“The joy we feel regarding this announcement is boundless. We opened all our doors; there was no cover-up. We did our best, and the constructive feedback from the MDCN will push us to aim even higher,” Lar stated.
“We have been working tirelessly to grow this university and ensure our College of Health Sciences meets global standards. I am proud to be leading the university at this critical moment.
“Even if I am no longer in office when my tenure is completed, I am confident that a solid foundation has been laid, and progress will continue.”
Abuja
Obi, Amaechi, Others Meet In Abuja, Discuss Nigeria’s Democratic Future
Obi, Amaechi, Others Meet In Abuja, Discuss Nigeria’s Democratic Future
Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, on Saturday hosted Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and other opposition leaders at his Abuja residence.
Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, Achike Udenwa, former governor of Anambra; and Victor Oganku were also at the meeting.
TheCable understands that discussions by the politicians centred on strengthening the opposition front and Nigeria’s democratic future.
Amaechi, Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar are members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and are eyeing the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former minister contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary and came second behind President Bola Tinubu, who won the party’s ticket.
In March, Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the ADC, said the party was working to adopt a consensus approach in selecting its presidential candidate for the 2027 poll.
Abdullahi said the party had the options of direct primaries and consensus for electing its presidential candidate, adding that indirect primaries were “no longer on the table”, as stipulated in the amended Electoral Act.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Amaechi said he has positioned himself as a viable contender for the next presidential race on the ADC platform.
Amaechi rejected the call for a consensus arrangement within the ADC ahead of the 2027 poll, insisting that aspirants must be allowed to test their popularity at the ballot.

Peter Obi
He said Nigerians are yearning for competent leadership to address economic hardship and insecurity.
The former governor of Rivers, however, said he would support Abubakar if the former vice-president emerges as the party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 presidential poll.
Abuja
FG Warns Against Illegal Use Of Ambassador Title, Fake Diplomatic Identities
FG Warns Against Illegal Use Of Ambassador Title, Fake Diplomatic Identities
President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has warned against the rising abuse of diplomatic titles in Nigeria, particularly the illegal use of the designation “Ambassador” by unauthorised individuals and groups.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in Abuja.
“Some of the persons conferred illegally with the Ambassadorial titles unfortunately parade themselves as such in official communications and even in engagements with foreign embassies in Nigeria which has caused serious embarrassment to the federal government.
“The Ministry warns that individuals parading themselves as “Ambassadors” based on such deceitful conferment are engaging in impersonation, which is a criminal offence and therefore strongly cautions all persons involved in such illegalities or parading themselves as Ambassadors to desist forthwith,” the statement said.
The government also raised alarm over the use of fake diplomatic passports, identity cards, vehicle number plates, and other materials bearing the insignia of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by impostors.

Tinubu
According to the statement, some of those involved in the practice go as far as parading themselves as ambassadors in official correspondence and in dealings with foreign missions in Nigeria, a development it said has embarrassed the country.
It, however, stressed that only the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has the constitutional authority to appoint and accredit ambassadors for Nigeria, adding that no individual, group, or organisation has the power to confer diplomatic titles.
Abuja
NPF Debunks False Terror Alert In FCT, Arrests Suspect For Incitement
NPF Debunks False Terror Alert In FCT, Arrests Suspect For Incitement
False terror alert in FCT,. The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically debunk a viral video circulating on social media alleging an ongoing terrorist attack in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Force states unequivocally that no such incident occurred, and the claims contained in the video are entirely false, misleading, and malicious.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the video was deliberately curated using misleading footage sourced from online platforms to construct a false narrative aimed at causing panic, inciting public fear, and undermining public confidence in the security architecture of the nation’s capital.
In furtherance of its commitment to maintaining public order, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested one Pam Joseph in connection with the creation and dissemination of the false content. The arrest followed credible intelligence and digital forensic investigations linking the suspect to the origin and circulation of the video.
The Force reiterates that while citizens have the right to freedom of expression, such rights do not extend to the deliberate spread of misinformation capable of threatening public peace and national security. Members of the public are therefore advised to verify information before sharing and to refrain from engaging in activities that may incite fear or disorder.

Police
The suspect is currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to safeguarding public order and national security, and will continue to monitor digital spaces and take decisive action against individuals who engage in the dissemination of false or misleading information.
DCP ANTHONY OKON PLACID psc(+) mni
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
10th April, 2026
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