Cubana Chief Priest laments state of Nigerian healthcare after hospital experience

Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has expressed disappointment over the state of healthcare in Nigeria.

In a post shared on his Instagram page, Chief Priest revealed that he is currently unwell and had gone to a hospital for a checkup. However, he claimed the experience left him frustrated, pointing to the poor attitude of hospital staff.

According to him, the visit was so discouraging that he decided to only pick up medications and postpone a proper medical checkup until he travels to the UK.

“The healthcare system in Nigeria is a joke,” he lamented.

Opinion:
Chief Priest’s frustration speaks to a truth many Nigerians know too well: the healthcare system is often underfunded, overstretched, and plagued by poor service delivery. His ability to opt for treatment abroad highlights the privilege of wealth—but it also sheds light on the reality that millions of ordinary citizens cannot afford that option. For them, a broken system isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a matter of life and death.

What makes this particularly concerning is that Nigeria boasts some of the best-trained medical professionals in the world—yet many leave for greener pastures due to poor working conditions at home. The “japa” wave among doctors and nurses continues to drain the system, leaving those who remain overwhelmed and underappreciated.

Chief Priest’s outcry, while personal, should spark wider reflection. Healthcare is not a luxury; it’s a fundamental right. If influential voices like his continue to highlight these issues, perhaps it will add more pressure on leaders to invest in reforms that prioritize patient care, staff welfare, and infrastructure.

For now, his words echo the frustration of many Nigerians: falling sick shouldn’t be a gamble between inadequate local care and the expensive hope of foreign treatment.