Nigeria faces worsening health worker shortage due to mass migration
Nigeria is experiencing a deepening crisis as thousands of health professionals leave the country, according to Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare. The exodus, known locally as “japa,” is putting immense pressure on Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system. Salako highlighted the urgent need for international cooperation to address the workforce shortage and called for reforms to strengthen the sector. The government is also working to engage Nigerian health professionals in the diaspora to help bridge capacity gaps.
Highlights
- Iziaq Salako warned that Nigeria’s health worker shortage is now a present emergency, not just a future threat.
- About 13,609 Nigerian health workers migrated to the UK between 2021 and 2022, making Nigeria a leading source of foreign-trained medical staff there.
- A 2023 survey found that 57% of Nigerian doctors had taken steps toward leaving the country for better opportunities.
- The government has expanded medical school admissions by about 160% between 2023 and 2025 and is strengthening training for other health professionals.
- Seven Nigerian healthcare diaspora associations plan a coordinated medical mission in Nigeria between April and July this year, focusing on knowledge transfer and skills development.
