NIGERIA, CALABAR – Unverified documents circulating widely on social media platforms have triggered intense public debate in Cross River State, raising questions about government administrative decisions and alleged irregularities in medical internship placements.
One of the documents, dated January 14, 2026, is purported to be a Head of Service Circular No. 2/2026 from the Cross River State Government, addressing security deployment and electricity payment arrangements across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
According to the circular shared online, the state government allegedly approved the deployment of personnel from the Nigerian Legion and Peace Corps to provide security patrols around government facilities statewide.
The document states that the assigned role of the security personnel would be limited to “strictly external security surveillance” and would not extend to activities within inner precincts or offices of MDAs.
It further claims that the directive was issued under the authority of Governor Bassey Otu, with implementation reportedly coordinated through the Office of the Head of Service.
In the same circular, MDAs were allegedly instructed to cease direct payment of electricity bills to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, beginning from February 2026 billing cycles.
The document claims that electricity payments would instead be centrally settled by the Office of the Head of Service, covering all state-owned ministries, departments, and agencies.
“The contents of this Circular are for information and strict compliance by all concerned,” the document reads, attributing the directive to the Head of Service, reportedly signed by Orok Bassey Okon.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the Cross River State Government has not issued any official confirmation validating the authenticity of the circular circulating on social media platforms.
Government officials contacted declined comments, while official state communication channels had not published the circular, raising concerns over its legitimacy and the potential spread of misinformation.
Simultaneously, another document circulating online, purportedly authored by a senior official of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, has intensified controversy within the medical community in Calabar and beyond.
The document, dated January 9, 2026, is framed as a petition addressed to the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, alleging manipulation of internship portal openings.
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The petition, attributed to Dr. Felix Archibong, identified as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee for Training and Research, references repeated complaints by young doctors and house officers.
According to the petition, there are allegations that a WhatsApp group allegedly called “Doclumin Networking 1,2,3” demands payments ranging between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000 from doctors seeking internship placement access.
The petition alleges that administrators of the purported WhatsApp group notify selected doctors when the MDCN portal would be opened, enabling early access before wider public awareness.
“This enables them to rush and complete the opening before the information gets to other doctors waiting for opportunity for internship,” the petition states.
The document lists multiple Nigerian phone numbers allegedly linked to administrators of the group, though it concedes that the claims may be difficult to prove conclusively.
Dr. Archibong, in the petition, reportedly questioned why only limited numbers of candidates were able to access the portal despite larger batches completing their programs.
“Why is it that Batch B would have about 50 doctors who had completed the program, the portal would not open for 50 candidates at once?” the petition asked.
The document further raised concerns about ethnic imbalance, questioning why doctors from a single tribe allegedly completed internship openings consecutively, a claim that has generated heated reactions online.
It also speculated about possible internal compromise, asking whether there could be a link between WhatsApp group managers and MDCN portal operators.
As a corrective measure, the petition reportedly recommended changing the officer responsible for opening the portal and implementing centralized controls to restore trust among young doctors nationwide.
Truth live news reports that while the petition has been widely shared and debated across WhatsApp, Facebook, and X platforms, no official response has been issued by the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital management.
Similarly, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has not publicly acknowledged receipt of the petition or commented on the allegations contained within the document.
Health sector stakeholders caution against drawing conclusions from unverified claims, urging regulatory bodies to investigate transparently while discouraging mob judgment fueled by social media narratives.
Media ethics experts note that while whistleblowing plays a vital role in accountability, allegations circulated without institutional confirmation risk reputational damage and public misinformation.
Public affairs analyst Edet Bassey told this publication that “social media rumors must be treated with caution, especially when documents are not officially published or verified.”
He added that authorities owe the public timely clarification to prevent speculation, misinformation, and erosion of trust in public institutions.
As discussions continue online, residents and professionals alike await official statements from the Cross River State Government, UCTH management, and the MDCN to clarify facts surrounding the circulating documents.
Until such confirmations are issued, both the circular and the petition remain unverified social media materials, and readers are advised to interpret the claims with caution, pending authoritative investigation and response.
