Nigeria, Dec. 19 -- The Jigawa State government has raised concerns over a sharp rise in blindness cases, warning that a severe shortage of eye care specialists is worsening the crisis.

According to official records, 81,797 cases of eye-related complications were reported in the state in 2024 alone, highlighting a growing public health crisis driven largely by cataracts and a shortage of eye care specialists.

The Acting Chairperson of the Jigawa State Eye Health Committee, Usman Muhammad, said the state is operating with only a fraction of the eye specialists it needs.

Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting in Dutse on Wednesday, Mr Muhammad described the manpower gap as alarming.

He attributed the worsening crisis to the "brain drain" p...