Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing a critical workforce crisis as over 94,000 doctors, nurses, and midwives have emigrated to countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada in search of better opportunities. The mass exodus—popularly referred to as “Japa”—has left hospitals and clinics across the country severely understaffed, with rural areas hit hardest.
According to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), while there are approximately 85,000 to 90,000 doctors registered in Nigeria, only about 55,000 are currently practicing within the country. The remaining have relocated abroad, with estimates suggesting that at least 30,000 doctors and 75,000 nurses and midwives have left Nigeria in recent years.
The World Health Organization recommends a doctor-to-population ratio of 1:1,000. Nigeria’s current ratio stands at an alarming 1:9,083, meaning one doctor is expected to serve nearly 9,100 people. This shortage is compounded by the fact that many specialists are shunning postgraduate training, further limiting the pipeline of qualified professionals.
Health Minister Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has described the situation as “critical,” noting that the cost of training a single doctor exceeds $21,000. The financial and human resource losses are staggering, with Nigeria losing an estimated $366 million due to the migration of healthcare workers over the past five to seven years.
Efforts are underway to address the crisis. The Federal Government is developing a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The policy aims to regulate health worker mobility, promote ethical recruitment, and retain skilled professionals through improved training and working conditions.
As Nigeria’s population continues to grow—projected to reach over 400 million by 2050—the need for a robust and resilient healthcare workforce has never been more urgent. Without swift and strategic intervention, the country risks deepening its public health challenges and widening the gap in access to quality care.