By Erewunmi Peace

The Lagos State Government has announced a total ban on the training and practice of auxiliary nurses in hospitals across the state, warning that facilities caught engaging in the practice will face sanctions, including closure.

The directive was issued by the Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), which described the training and use of auxiliary nurses as illegal and dangerous to the health sector.

Dr. Abiola Idowu, Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, said the government had observed with concern that some private hospitals and clinics were training individuals as auxiliary nurses despite lacking the authority to do so. She stressed that such individuals lacked the professional skills to provide safe healthcare services.

“Auxiliary nurses are not recognized by any law in Nigeria. They do more harm than good to patients because they are not properly trained, yet they are left to handle sensitive medical cases,” Dr. Idowu said.

She further warned that the government will not hesitate to shut down facilities found guilty of training or employing auxiliary nurses.

The practice of employing auxiliary nurses — individuals trained informally in hospitals instead of accredited nursing schools — has been widespread in Nigeria, particularly in private clinics. Critics argue that the practice contributes to medical errors, poor service delivery, and risks to patients’ lives.

The Lagos government’s move is part of a broader effort to sanitize the healthcare sector, enforce standards, and protect residents from quack practices.

With this ban, all hospitals and clinics in Lagos are now mandated to employ only duly certified and licensed nurses from accredited institutions. The government has urged the public to report facilities found violating the directive.