Medical professionals have cautioned that the ongoing exodus of nurses from Nigeria is worsening the nation’s health crisis, resulting in longer wait times, greater illness severity, and more fatalities.
Their worries come after a statement was made by Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, who serves as the acting World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, in observance of the 2025 International Nurses Day.
Ihekweazu observed that 42 percent of African nurses have indicated their desire to leave their home countries.
This year's Nurses Day, celebrated on May 12, was themed "Our Nurses. Our Future. Strengthening Care for Nurses Enhances Health Systems and Economies."
The most recent report from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council indicates that at least 14,815 nurses and midwives trained in Nigeria have obtained licenses to practice in the United Kingdom between 2017 and September 2024.
By March 31, 2024, there were 13,656 Nigerian nurses and midwives employed in the UK. This figure increased by 1,159 within half a year.
Currently, Nigeria holds the third position as a supplier of nursing staff to Britain after India (with 67,576 nurses) and the Philippines (having contributed 50,180 nurses).
Ihekweazu cautioned that nurses account for almost 70 percent of the health workforce in Africa, serving as the backbone of healthcare systems.
Yet despite the number of nurses doubling from 900,000 in 2018 to 1.7 million in 2023, the region still lags behind global standards, with nurse-to-population ratios more than ten times lower than in high-income countries.
“Nurses account for 66 per cent of Africa’s projected shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030,” he said. “This shortage affects access to vital services—from maternal and child health to chronic disease care—and threatens progress toward universal health coverage.”
He added that nearly half of Africa’s nursing workforce is under the age of 35, but many lack mentorship or defined career paths.
Meanwhile, high-income countries continue to recruit nurses from Africa, with foreign-born professionals making up a quarter of their workforce.
“Constrained budgets compound the problem. African countries face an average 43 per cent shortfall in health workforce financing, leaving nearly one in three health workers, mostly nurses and midwives, unemployed or underemployed,” he said.
Reacting, the Secretary General of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos Council, Toba Odumosu, said the mass emigration—popularly known as “japa”—is devastating the health sector.
“We are already experiencing a healthcare crisis. The exodus of experienced nurses, some with 12–15 years of service, leaves a void that can’t be filled easily,” he said. “Even when replacements are found, the experience and expertise lost are irreplaceable.”
Odumosu said the lack of structure, poor career prospects, and economic instability are pushing nurses to seek better opportunities abroad. He stressed that government investment is urgently needed.
At minimum, Nigeria ought to achieve the 15 percent healthcare budget allocation suggested by the Abuja Declaration," he stated. "Additionally, we need to enhance work environments for nurses by providing them with access to loans, mortgages, and opportunities for professional growth.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Tope Osundara, also warned that the emigration trend will lead to longer waiting times, delayed surgeries, and worse patient outcomes—particularly in critical cases such as cancer where post-operative nursing care is essential.
"Nurses form the foundation of patient care, particularly in critical departments such as neonatal units. Doctors alone can't cover all these responsibilities," he stated, urging the government to implement robust incentives to keep nursing expertise intact.
Likewise, Martin Egbanubi, the National Secretary of the Joint Health Sector Unions, stated that the large-scale emigration is exacerbating Nigeria’s severe deficiency of healthcare workers.
"This significantly affects the standard and availability of healthcare, especially within public hospitals designed for the general populace. Should this pattern persist, it could further depress Nigeria’s already low human development index," he stated.
He encouraged African governments to address this matter urgently before it puts additional strain on the continent’s vulnerable healthcare systems.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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