THE alarming rate of migration of Nigeria’s healthcare professionals to foreign shores remains a critical issue that threatens to cripple the nation’s already fragile health sector. Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) have painted a dire picture: hospitals are on the brink of being emptied of skilled personnel. Despite commendable investments in health infrastructure by the Federal Government, the exodus continues unabated, posing a significant challenge to healthcare delivery.
Recently, at the 2025 budget defence session before the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, the CMD of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, delivered a stark warning. He emphasised that medical workers are resigning at an unprecedented rate, primarily driven by poor remuneration. Echoing this sentiment, the CMD of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Jesse Abiodun, joined other health leaders in urging immediate intervention to avert a looming healthcare crisis. As Prof. Adeyemo put it, “In the next one or two years, we are going to have all our hospitals empty.”
This distressing trend is further underscored by figures from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate. Out of approximately 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors, only about 55,000 are currently practising in the country. Between 15,000 and 16,000 doctors have left for better opportunities abroad over the past five years. Similarly, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) disclosed that only 6,000 consultants remain in Nigeria, a figure that continues to dwindle as many retire or resign. The retirement age for medical consultants set at 60, has exacerbated this loss of expertise, leaving the healthcare system in a precarious state.
While President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to increase the retirement age for healthcare workers from 60 to 65 is a welcome development, it is merely a stopgap measure. The root cause of the problem—economic dissatisfaction—must be addressed. Nigerian healthcare professionals are lured abroad by significantly better pay and working conditions. It is disheartening to note that consultants in Nigeria earn less than $1,000 monthly, a figure that pales in comparison to global standards.
The Abuja Declaration of 2001, in which African Union (AU) governments committed to allocating at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to health, remains unfulfilled by successive Nigerian administrations. This failure to prioritise healthcare funding has left the system grossly under-resourced. Increasing the health budget is not just a necessity; it is an urgent imperative. Comprehensive investment in the sector would not only improve remuneration and working conditions but also help retain young, talented professionals who are otherwise forced to seek greener pastures.
The economic consequences of neglecting the health sector are staggering. Nigeria loses an estimated $1 billion annually to medical tourism as citizens seek treatment abroad due to inadequate local facilities and personnel. This is a preventable drain on the nation’s resources. By investing in healthcare, the Federal Government can save these funds and redirect them toward building a robust, self-sufficient system capable of catering to the health needs of all Nigerians.
The mass exodus of healthcare workers is not merely a professional loss; it is a national emergency. The Federal Government must adopt a multi-pronged approach to reverse this trend. Beyond improving remuneration, there is a need for a holistic review of welfare packages, career progression opportunities, and workplace conditions. Initiatives to incentivise rural postings and foster a sense of national service among medical professionals must also be prioritised.
Nigeria’s healthcare crisis is a solvable problem, but time is of the essence. Without swift and decisive action, the nation risks a healthcare collapse, with devastating consequences for its population. As the CMDs and other stakeholders have warned, the writing is on the wall. It is now up to the Federal Government to heed their call and implement meaningful reforms that will stem the tide of migration and restore faith in the Nigerian health system.
