Nigeria's Health Crisis Deepens Due to Doctor Migration

The mass migration of healthcare professionals, commonly referred to as "japa," is significantly worsening Nigeria's health crisis, according to Iziak Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare. Speaking at the 2026 Global Health Summit in London, Salako noted that Nigeria currently has only four doctors per 10,000 people, which is far below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of ten.

The exodus of Nigerian health workers has intensified manpower shortages, placing enormous pressure on the already overstretched healthcare system. Data indicates that 13,609 Nigerian health workers migrated to the UK between 2021 and 2022, making Nigeria one of the largest sources of foreign-trained medical personnel in the UK.

A survey revealed that 57% of Nigerian doctors are considering leaving the country for better opportunities abroad. Salako emphasized that each doctor leaving Nigeria represents a significant loss of public investment, often exceeding $200,000 in training costs.

The Nigerian government, under Bola Tinubu, is launching reforms aimed at strengthening the healthcare sector.