Tinubu’s Govt Mentions Number of Doctors Who Have Japa and How Much Nigeria Has Lost Over 5 Years
- Over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have emigrated in the last five to seven years, causing significant financial losses
- The exodus is driven by poor working conditions, inadequate pay, and limited opportunities, prompting the government to develop a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
- Nigeria is calling for a pan-African approach to regulate health worker mobility, promote ethical recruitment, and retain skilled professionals through better data, training, and collaboration across the continent
The Federal Government has disclosed that more than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have emigrated over the past five to seven years in pursuit of better opportunities abroad, resulting in significant financial and human resource losses to the country’s health sector.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, made this known on Tuesda, April 8, during the 7th Annual Capacity Building Workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), which took place in Abuja.
Source: Twitter
The theme of the event was “Integrated Healthcare Regulation and Leadership in Building Resilient Health Systems.”
Health minister lament mass relocation of healthworkers
Professor Pate expressed concern over the growing trend of Nigerian healthcare professionals—particularly doctors, nurses, and midwives—relocating abroad.
He revealed that Nigeria’s current doctor-to-population ratio stands at 3.9 per 10,000 people, far below the global minimum standard recommended by international health bodies.
“In just the past five to seven years, over 16,000 doctors are estimated to have left Nigeria. The exodus also includes many nurses and midwives, further reducing our already stretched workforce,” he said.
He further noted that the cost of training a single doctor exceeds $21,000, underscoring the enormous fiscal burden that the country faces when trained professionals emigrate.
“This represents not only a loss of personnel but also a loss of investment. Our rural areas, in particular, have been left critically underserved as a result,” Pate stated.
Why are Nigerian health workers leaving Nigeria?
According to the minister, multiple factors are contributing to the migration, including the lure of improved working conditions, better remuneration, advanced training opportunities, and more robust research environments in foreign countries, Punch reported.
“Although the migration of health professionals from lower-income nations is not a new occurrence, it has clearly accelerated in recent years. These individuals are seeking environments where their talents are better rewarded,” he explained.
However, he maintained that the trend presents an opportunity to rethink and reform health workforce policies in Nigeria.
Pate speaks on new direction under Tinubu
Source: Twitter
Professor Pate announced that under the Renewed Hope Agenda led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the federal government is pursuing a fresh approach to manage healthcare migration.
Tinubu, he noted, was recently named the African Union’s Continental Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery.
“We are now taking a data-driven and evidence-based approach. Our National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is central to this. It does not aim to restrict movement but seeks to manage it responsibly, with dignity and fairness to all stakeholders involved,” Pate explained.
Calls for continental unity
Professor Pate urged African nations to come together to establish a pan-African compact on health workforce mobility, which would include harmonised training and accreditation standards, joint planning tools, and collaborative negotiations with receiving countries.
“This is the moment for Africa to lead. We must invest in our people and set up structures that ensure we are not continually depleted of our healthcare talent,” he said.
Tinubu, Buhari, others questioned over poor improvement of health sector
Public analyst Hamma Hayatu while speaking with Legit.ng on Sunday, April 13, sharply criticized the Tinubu administration and past governments for what he described as “decades of neglect” that have crippled Nigeria’s health sector, especially in light of the recent disclosure that over 16,000 doctors have left the country in just a few years.
Hayatu argued that Nigeria’s leadership has consistently failed to prioritize the welfare and retention of healthcare workers, allowing the system to decay while professionals flee in search of dignity and proper working conditions abroad.
Hayatu stated:
"How can a country train thousands of doctors with public funds only to watch them leave because their own nation can’t offer them a future? This is not just about Tinubu — it’s a generational failure of leadership. The so-called reforms are too little, too late. The health sector is bleeding, and we’re still issuing press statements.”
Tinubu approves retirement age for doctors, healthcare workers
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that doctors rejoiced as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu increased the retirement age of healthcare workers in Nigeria.
President Tinubu increased the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.
The National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Mannir Bature, shared more details about the new development.
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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944
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