Nigerian health minister warns of worsening doctor shortage
Nigeria’s healthcare system is under severe strain as more medical professionals leave the country, according to Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare. The ongoing exodus, known locally as “japa,” is intensifying workforce shortages and threatening the delivery of quality care. Salako highlighted the urgent need for reforms and international cooperation to address the crisis. He also pointed to government efforts to expand training and engage diaspora professionals.
What we know
- Iziaq Salako raised concerns about Nigeria’s health workforce crisis during a keynote address at the 2026 United Kingdom Global Health Summit.
- About 13,609 Nigerian health workers migrated to the UK between 2021 and 2022, making Nigeria a major source of foreign-trained medical personnel.
- A 2023 survey by NOI Polls and Nigeria Health Watch found that 57% of Nigerian doctors had taken steps toward leaving the country.
- Nigeria recorded about a 160% increase in medical school admissions between 2023 and 2025 to address manpower shortages.
- 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.
