A worsening healthcare crisis is unfolding in Nigeria as twelve states now have fewer than 200 qualified doctors each, Hobnob News has learned. This alarming statistic was revealed in the latest State of Health of the Nation report published on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The mass emigration of Nigerian doctors—popularly referred to as the Japa syndrome—has intensified since 2021, stripping the country’s healthcare sector of vital personnel. By 2022, over 3,000 Nigerian doctors applied for Letters of Good Standing from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the highest in recent memory.
The United Kingdom has become the most preferred destination, accounting for 68% of the reported migration cases, followed by Canada (10%), the United States (7%), the UAE (5%), and others. Alarmingly, 89% of migrating doctors cited professional development as their primary reason for leaving.
By March 2025, only 11,899 resident doctors were reportedly practicing in Nigeria. States most affected include Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, and Niger.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, expressed grave concern, stating that the ongoing brain drain is placing an unbearable burden on the few remaining healthcare professionals. “We’re witnessing a sharp rise in patient wait times, delayed surgeries, and worsening health outcomes,” he warned, urging the government to address poor working conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and safety concerns.
Dr. Kayode Adesola, President of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, echoed similar concerns. He emphasized the need to remove doctors from the general salary structure and provide safer, better-equipped working environments. “Nigeria produces some of the best-trained doctors, but they’re leaving in droves due to insecurity and poor incentives,” he said.
In Gombe State, health union leader Martins Lekke lamented the lack of doctor recruitment and noted that overburdened staff face increasing fatigue, errors, and patient dissatisfaction. “At our pediatric ward, just two nurses were attending to 40 patients,” he recounted.
Benue State officials attributed the doctor shortfall to both emigration and a desire among graduates to open private clinics rather than pursue residency. Commissioner for Health Dr. Yanmar Ortese said the state has launched a bond programme offering N150,000 monthly to 400–600 level medical students, requiring two years of post-graduation.
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