The Nigerian health sector has recorded 12 states to be currently short of medical staff due to relocation to other countries.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare declared this in its national report on the country’s state of health. The ministry also reported on its website that the affected states have fewer than 200 qualified trained doctors.
Recall that the Bauchi State government recently approved a new salary and welfare package for its doctors and health workers. The government took this initiative to cushion the shortage of healthcare workers by retaining and attracting health personnel to Bauchi.
According to the state Head of Service, Mohammed Umar, healthcare workers have continued to abandon the state over the years. He noted poor working conditions caused the issue; thus, the government is acting to retain healthcare workers in the state.
Umar disclosed that the actions included the increment of salaries of healthcare workers in the state. The increment also extends to NYSC members serving in medical facilities in Bauchi. Further, he noted that the government also approved other incentives like car loans, housing, and allowances.
Meanwhile, the national report revealed that Nigeria has witnessed the mass migration of a large number of doctors and other health workers to other countries since 2021. In 2022, over 3000 doctors reportedly requested a letter of guarantorship from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
By December 2022, 68% of Nigeria’s medical and dental professionals migrated to the UK and 10% to Canada, through MDCN. Other destinations include the USA (7%), UAE (5%), Australia and Ireland (3% each), as well as Arabia and the Maldives (1% each).
In March 2025, the National Association of Resident Doctors reported that only 11,899 resident doctors are currently practicing in Nigeria. However, some states are more affected by the ‘Japa’ syndrome in the healthcare sector than others.
The report mentioned Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, and Niger as the states with less than 200 doctors.
In the meantime, the President of NARD, Dr Tope Osundara, has warned that the increasing migration of doctors will further affect the healthcare sector. As a result, there will be longer patient wait times and delays in surgeries, particularly for critical cases like cancer.
Osundara further urged the government to provide a better and more conducive working environment for healthcare workers in the country. This covers attractive pay and incentives, good working conditions, security, infrastructure, and general welfare package for health workers.
