Nigeria’s health sector is facing mounting pressure as the continued migration of healthcare professionals abroad threatens the country’s ability to provide quality medical services, prompting renewed calls for urgent reforms and increased investment.
The exodus of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals commonly referred to as the “Japa” phenomenon has significantly depleted the country’s health workforce, leaving many public hospitals struggling with staff shortages, increased workloads and longer waiting times for patients.
According to the State of Health of the Nation Report 2025, no fewer than 20,966 Nigerian health workers relocated abroad within one year. The figure includes 3,919 doctors, 7,487 nurses and midwives, 6,861 medical laboratory professionals, 702 pharmacists and 658 physiotherapists, highlighting the scale of the country’s healthcare brain drain.
Health experts attribute the growing migration to poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, limited career advancement opportunities, obsolete medical equipment, insecurity and underfunding of the health sector. They warn that unless these structural challenges are addressed, Nigeria’s healthcare system could face even greater strain.
The shortage of skilled personnel has increased pressure on the remaining workforce, with many hospitals reporting overstretched staff, reduced quality of care and delayed access to essential medical services, particularly in rural communities. Studies have also linked the migration trend to declining continuity of care and widening inequalities in healthcare delivery.
Recognising the challenge, the Federal Government has announced measures aimed at strengthening the country’s health workforce. In May, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, which seeks to expand health workforce training, improve employment opportunities and promote more equitable international health worker mobility.
The ministry said training quotas at health institutions have been increased, more than 70,000 frontline health workers have been retrained under the Primary Health Care workforce strengthening initiative, and efforts are underway to deploy more community health workers nationwide. The government also advocated for bilateral agreements that would ensure destination countries investing in recruiting Nigerian health workers contribute to training and workforce development in Nigeria.
Healthcare stakeholders, however, insist that policy commitments must be matched with sustained funding, improved welfare packages and modern healthcare infrastructure if Nigeria is to retain its skilled professionals.
They argue that reversing the brain drain will require competitive salaries, better working conditions, access to modern equipment, opportunities for professional development and stronger investment in public healthcare facilities.
With demand for Nigerian-trained healthcare professionals continuing to rise globally, experts warn that failure to implement meaningful reforms could further weaken the country’s healthcare system and undermine efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
