Amid growing concern over the ‘Japa’ wave draining Nigeria’s health workforce, the Kwara State Government has stated it is not under pressure to retain or urgently recruit nurses, unlike the acute shortage of medical doctors affecting healthcare delivery across the state.

Speaking at the state’s quarterly ministerial press briefing on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board, Dr AbdulRaheem AbdulMalik, revealed that the state currently has just 89 doctors on its payroll—less than half the required 200.

He attributed the shortage to doctors migrating abroad and their unwillingness to accept rural postings, despite recent improvements in salaries and allowances.

“We increased salaries and some doctors returned, but recruitment remains a struggle. One doctor posted to Offa never resumed,” he said.

To address the widening gap, AbdulMalik said the government is developing a mobile app to help patients monitor doctors’ availability in public hospitals and reduce waiting time. More long-term, the state is working on a sponsorship model to fund medical students on the condition that they return to serve after graduation.

However, he noted that the situation with nurses is less severe. “We are not as desperate for nurses as we are for doctors. Social factors work in our favour—most nurses are women whose decisions to migrate often depend on their husbands’ location,” he explained.

While acknowledging that some nurses still emigrate, AbdulMalik said the trend is slower and less disruptive compared to doctors.

Commissioner for Communications, Mrs Bola Olukoju, who moderated the briefing, reiterated the state’s commitment to improving healthcare and public safety, adding that efforts to curb kidnapping and banditry are being reinforced through partnerships with security agencies and local vigilantes.