A representation of the migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria, reflecting the challenges faced at home.
The ongoing migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals continues to weaken the health system, with doctors fleeing poor conditions. The National Health Summit 2025 highlighted critical challenges and the economic disparities affecting healthcare workers, leading to a significant brain drain. While the government has launched policies to address these issues, analysts remain skeptical about their effectiveness. Meanwhile, Nigeria faces a severe shortage of medical professionals, exacerbated by the trend of migration to countries like the UK, which threatens the quality of healthcare delivery.
The ongoing migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals, particularly doctors, continues to weaken the country’s health system, with many now being classified as “economic fugitives.” This term was highlighted at the recent National Health Summit 2025, where discussions centered around the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s medical workforce and the urgent need for systemic reforms.
At the summit, Dr. Sunday Fawole, a Nigerian-born dentist practicing in the United States, addressed the alarming trend of medical professionals leaving Nigeria for better opportunities abroad. Fawole emphasized that Nigerian doctors working overseas are effectively fleeing poor domestic conditions, citing inadequate infrastructure, chronic underfunding, stagnating careers, and governance issues as primary “push factors.”
He stressed that these internal challenges create a more compelling reason for migration than the appealing conditions offered by recipient countries. The phenomenon results in a significant brain drain, which continues despite government efforts to stem the tide.
The disparity in earnings between Nigerian doctors and their international counterparts is stark. Resident doctors in Nigeria typically earn less than $10,000 annually. Meanwhile, their colleagues in abroad can earn between $100,000 and $300,000, depending on specialization. Such financial gaps are among the main motivators for migration, but the consequences extend beyond economics.
Many migrant doctors experience significant emotional and psychological hardships, including family separation, identity crises, and feelings of guilt. Fawole pointed out that these emotional challenges are compounded by the necessity-driven nature of migration, with many seeking a better future for their families rather than mere personal gain.
Furthermore, doctors returning for medical missions often confront the same challenging realities that prompted their original emigration, revealing the depth of systemic issues within Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.
In response to the crisis, the government recently signed the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, aimed at managing healthcare worker movement more proactively. The policy intends to tackle the root causes of shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas, through improved remuneration and better working conditions.
Additionally, there have been efforts to boost medical training and infrastructure through large-scale investments, including a ₦110 billion injection from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. The funds will be used to modernize healthcare education, upgrade facilities, and reduce medical tourism. These measures are designed to address the availability and quality of healthcare professionals, with an emphasis on retaining talent within Nigeria.
Despite these initiatives, analysts have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of past policies, noting inconsistent implementation and limited impact. There is skepticism whether current and future strategies can adequately confront the deep-rooted issues of poor remuneration and working conditions.
The shortage of healthcare workers remains critical, with Nigeria currently having a health workforce ratio of 0.363 medical doctors per 1,000 people. This is far below the World Health Organization’s recommended benchmark, contributing to a doctor-patient ratio of 1:9,000, which hampers healthcare delivery.
Recent statistics reveal that about 70% of Nigerian medical professionals migrating abroad choose the United Kingdom. Migration peaked in 2022, with over 3,000 doctors requesting official letters to emigrate. This ongoing trend adversely affects the Nigerian healthcare system, increasing the burden on the remaining medical staff and lowering the quality of care.
Other countries such as Thailand, Cuba, and India have implemented successful strategies to retain healthcare workers, including structured incentives, advanced training opportunities, and improved working conditions. Nigeria’s adoption of similar measures could help stem the tide of migration.
The government’s vision is to stabilize its healthcare workforce by addressing issues related to remuneration, infrastructure, and policy enforcement. A multifaceted approach involving structural reforms, increased investments, and international best practices is considered essential to reversing the current trend and ensuring a resilient healthcare system for Nigeria.
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