Nigeria Loses 20,000 Health Workers to Rich Countries as 80% of Doctors Eye Exit Amid Workforce Collapse

Nigeria's healthcare system is experiencing a catastrophic brain drain, with nearly 20,000 health workers having migrated to wealthier countries in recent years and close to 80 percent of those who remain actively exploring opportunities to leave, according to data presented at medical conferences and compiled by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

The exodus has left Nigeria—a country of 213 million people—with only 58,000 doctors holding active practicing licenses out of 130,000 registered, representing just 45 percent. Of those, only 51 percent are actively employed within Nigeria's health system, meaning fewer than 31,000 doctors are currently treating patients in a nation with one of the fastest-growing populations on earth.

Dr. Emem Bassey, Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, warned that excessive workloads have taken a devastating toll, with many resident doctors on call almost every day of the month. Nearly half of Nigeria's doctors have either left or are planning to leave, and the situation is even worse among nurses and midwives.

Nurses Hit Hardest by the Exodus

Nigeria's nursing and midwifery workforce has suffered the highest level of migration among all health professions. Although the country has 267,951 registered nurses and midwives—comprising 73,130 nurses, 21,031 midwives, and 173,790 with post-basic qualifications—only 113,123 currently possess active practicing licenses, representing an effective licensing ratio of just 42 percent.

The majority of those no longer practicing in Nigeria have migrated abroad, particularly to the United Kingdom, which remains the leading destination. Data from the UK's General Medical Council shows that approximately 15,692 Nigerian-trained doctors are now practicing in Britain, making Nigeria the third-largest source country for foreign medical professionals in the UK after India and Pakistan.

But it is not only Western countries luring Nigerian health workers. Medical and Dental Council data reveals that 153 Nigerian doctors are practicing in Sudan, 41 in South Africa, 17 each in Egypt and Ghana, 13 in Uganda, and 7 in Gambia. African nations such as Sierra Leone and Gambia are reportedly offering attractive packages of $3,000 to $4,000 per month—modest by Western standards but still significantly higher than Nigerian public sector salaries.

The Salary Gap Driving Migration

The financial incentive to leave is overwhelming. A Nigerian professor of medicine working in Saudi Arabia earns between 5 million and 7 million naira per month (roughly $12,000 to $17,000), compared to 420,000 naira ($1,019) for a professor at a Nigerian medical school. Even junior doctors and nurses can multiply their earnings several times over by relocating to the UK, US, Canada, or Gulf states.

Professor Muhammad Muhammad, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, emphasized that higher remuneration and better working conditions abroad are not the only pull factors. Nigerian health workers also cite inadequate provision of personal protective equipment, inconsistent payment of hazard allowances, worsening insecurity, and limited opportunities for career advancement as reasons to leave.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trickle became a flood. A 2022 study found that prior to the pandemic, 88 percent of Nigerian doctors and about 50 percent of Nigerian nurses had expressed intent to migrate. The pandemic—marked by shortages of PPE, delayed hazard pay, and surging infection rates—accelerated those plans.

Specialists Vanishing, Oncology in Crisis

The brain drain is particularly acute among specialists. A recent study on Nigeria's clinical oncology workforce found that the country has approximately 70 clinical oncologists providing care for 124,815 cancer patients and a population of 213 million. Researchers warned that this staggering deficit is likely to worsen, as about 90 percent of Nigerian physicians—including oncologists—are eager to leave for perceived greener pastures in the US, UK, and Canada.

Optometry, pharmacy, and dental professions face similar shortages. Of 6,975 registered optometrists, only 2,156 possess active practicing licenses, with 431 having migrated abroad. Among opticians, only 307 of 2,976 registered professionals currently hold licenses.

Government Appeals, But No Structural Fix

President Bola Tinubu has publicly appealed to Nigerian diaspora medical professionals to return and contribute to the country's development, telling them "there is nowhere like home." But appeals to patriotism have done little to reverse the tide in the absence of structural reforms.

The Nigerian Medical Association has called for the creation of an environment that not only attracts but retains key health workers—including competitive salaries, job satisfaction, improved working conditions, and enhanced security. The NMA also advocates for investment in healthcare infrastructure, specialized equipment, and continued professional development to position Nigeria as a competitive destination, not just a source country.

For now, however, the trajectory is clear: Nigeria trains world-class doctors and nurses, and rich countries harvest them. Until the fundamentals change—pay, safety, equipment, respect—the exodus will continue, and Nigeria's health system will remain trapped in a cycle of training workers it cannot keep.

What to Watch

The Nigerian government is expected to release a new National Human Resources for Health Strategic Plan covering 2026-2030, which may include retention incentives, rural posting allowances, and scholarship bonds requiring graduates to serve domestically for a set number of years. Whether those measures will be funded and enforced remains an open question.

Meanwhile, the UK has slowed its international recruitment since 2025, and some Nigerian doctors report longer wait times for visa approvals and professional registration. But Canada, Australia, and Gulf states continue to actively recruit, ensuring that the pipeline remains open for those determined to leave.