Fresh data revealed by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) showed that nearly 19,000 doctors have left the country in search of greener pastures abroad.
Latest tweets by the association confirmed that 18,949 doctors departed Nigeria in the past 20 years, 3,974 in 2024 alone, and the alarming exodus of doctors is already taking its toll on many hospitals in the country, following long delays and persistent queues at medical centres.
The data showed that about 13,629 doctors sought greener pastures abroad between 2005 and 2014, as more Nigerians relocated due to impending economic hardship. The Federal government’s effort to checkmate this massive brain drain went up in flames in the face of economic depression, as the situation worsened in 2015, with more Nigerians embracing the Japa slogan.
The NARD report revealed further that 18,647 medical doctors resigned from their duties in search of better pay overseas, with most of them ending up with the UK National Health Service (NHS).
The year 2024 witnessed the highest surge in medical doctors’ departures after 3,974 medical personnel turned in their resignations at both private and public hospitals.
A report from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in 2022 highlighted a significant disparity in the distribution of doctors among different states.
Nigeria currently has around 55,000 licensed doctors, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. Lagos has the highest number of doctors, totalling 7,385, followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 4,453, Rivers with 2,194, Enugu with 2,070, and Oyo with 1,996.
In stark contrast, Taraba has only 201 doctors. Other states with low doctor numbers include Jigawa (255), Zamfara (267), Kebbi (273), and Yobe (275). These shortages have serious implications for healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
As a result, long queues, rescheduled appointments, and frequent no-shows by doctors in private hospitals now point towards a worsening crisis as Nigeria continues to bleed through a relentless wave of medical talent migration.
Healthcare professionals attribute the delays to a significant shortage of doctors, particularly specialists, caused by the rising emigration rate among Nigerian medical professionals.
