Abuja, Nigeria — In what experts are now calling the worst brain drain in Nigeria’s medical history, more than 94,000 Nigerian doctors and nurses have left the country in recent years to take up employment in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and other developed nations. This unprecedented exodus has left Nigeria’s public health system severely strained and in urgent need of reform.
The migration trend, known colloquially as “Japa” — a Yoruba slang meaning “to flee” — has intensified as health professionals seek better pay, safer working conditions, and more structured systems abroad. Sadly, back home, millions of Nigerians are being left with overburdened, understaffed, and underfunded healthcare facilities.
A System Under Siege
According to recent findings made available to Vanguard, the breakdown includes over 60,000 doctors and approximately 34,000 nurses and midwives who have exited Nigeria’s health workforce within the past decade, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed even more cracks in the country’s fragile healthcare system.
Health workers cite numerous factors driving their decision to migrate, including:
- Inadequate remuneration and salary delays
- Poor infrastructure and lack of basic medical equipment
- Insecurity and threats to personal safety
- High levels of stress and burnout
- Limited opportunities for professional development
Dr. Fatima Lawal, a 34-year-old physician who recently relocated to the UK under the National Health Service (NHS) recruitment program, shared her story:
“I didn’t want to leave Nigeria. But after working for eight years in a state hospital without consistent power, water, or equipment — and getting paid irregularly — I had no choice. Here in the UK, I can focus on saving lives, not surviving.”
Recruitment Pipelines Now Flow One-Way
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) confirmed that the number of doctors seeking certificates of good standing — a requirement for employment abroad — has surged by over 500% in the last five years. Similarly, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has witnessed a sharp rise in requests for verification to foreign boards.
In 2022 alone, the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) licensed 1,307 Nigerian doctors — an average of more than 3 doctors per day. As of 2025, Nigeria is the third-largest source of foreign-trained doctors in the UK, trailing only behind India and Pakistan.
The United States, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have also ramped up recruitment efforts, offering Nigerian medical personnel significantly higher salaries and well-equipped work environments.
Dire Consequences at Home
Back in Nigeria, the effect is being felt deeply. Many government hospitals in states like Zamfara, Bayelsa, Kogi, and even parts of Lagos are reportedly operating with less than 20% of their required medical staff. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:600, but Nigeria is currently at 1:5,000 — one of the worst ratios globally.
In rural areas, the situation is even more dire. Health centres in northern states often operate without a single doctor and are managed by undertrained personnel or community health extension workers. Preventable deaths are on the rise, and critical services like emergency care, surgeries, and maternal health are suffering.
In a tragic case from Benue State, a woman reportedly lost her newborn after a hospital turned her away due to the absence of a pediatrician and only one available nurse on duty for the entire ward.
Government Response and Public Outcry
The Nigerian government has acknowledged the crisis but has struggled to implement effective retention strategies. In 2023, the Federal Ministry of Health proposed a bonding policy that would require newly graduated doctors to work in Nigeria for five years before being eligible to leave — but the proposal was met with backlash and was eventually shelved.
Speaking on the issue, the Minister of Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated:
“We cannot stop professionals from seeking greener pastures. What we must do is create a system that encourages them to stay. We are working on incentives, salary restructuring, and better infrastructure, but it will take time.”
However, health unions argue that time is running out. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) have warned of an impending total collapse of the health system if urgent steps are not taken.
They have demanded:
- Immediate salary reviews and hazard allowance upgrades
- Improved working conditions and infrastructure
- Incentives for young medical graduates
- Enhanced training programs and continuous professional development
- Better security for health workers in volatile regions
A Call for Urgent Reform
Healthcare analysts say the Japa wave is a symptom of deeper structural failures, not just in the health sector but across Nigeria’s governance. Until those issues are addressed holistically, they argue, no amount of recruitment or stopgap policy will reverse the trend.
Professor Chika Anene, a public health expert at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, commented:
“This isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity, respect, structure, and safety. We are losing our best minds to countries that value them. If Nigeria wants to retain talent, it must begin to value its professionals — not just in words, but in action.”
Conclusion
As the numbers continue to rise and Nigeria’s hospitals grow quieter, patients are left to bear the brunt. Families wait endlessly for care. Emergency rooms are overwhelmed. And in many cases, the only treatment available is prayer and hope.
With 94,000 gone and more already planning their exit, one thing is clear: if Nigeria does not fix its broken healthcare system urgently, the future of public health in the country remains dangerously uncertain.
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