Nigeria has lost a staggering 14,815 nurses and midwives to the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2024, according to recent reports. This mass exodus of healthcare professionals has raised concerns about the country’s ability to provide quality healthcare services to its citizens.
The numbers are alarming, with 2,796 Nigerian nurses migrating to the UK in 2017-2018, followed by 3,021 in 2018-2019, and 3,684 in 2019-2020. The trend continued, with 4,310 Nigerian nurses registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the UK in 2020-2021, and a whopping 7,256 in 2021-2022.
The most recent data available shows that 3,173 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives moved to the UK in 2023-2024, bringing the total number of Nigerian healthcare professionals lost to the UK to 14,815. This number is a significant blow to Nigeria’s already understaffed healthcare system.
The brain drain of Nigerian health workers has been attributed to a range of factors, including poor working conditions, low salaries, and limited career advancement opportunities. Many Nigerian nurses and midwives are seeking better opportunities abroad, where they can earn higher salaries and enjoy better working conditions.
The loss of so many skilled healthcare professionals is a major concern for Nigeria’s healthcare system. The country is already struggling to provide quality healthcare services to its citizens, and the loss of so many experienced nurses and midwives will only exacerbate the problem.
Experts are calling for urgent action to address the brain drain of Nigerian health workers. They argue that the government needs to invest more in the healthcare sector, improve working conditions, and provide better salaries and benefits to retain skilled professionals.
The Nigerian government has been urged to take immediate action to stem the tide of healthcare professionals leaving the country. This includes increasing funding for the healthcare sector, improving working conditions, and providing better salaries and benefits to healthcare workers.
The loss of 14,815 nurses and midwives to the UK is a wake-up call for Nigeria’s healthcare system. The country needs to take urgent action to address the brain drain and ensure that its citizens have access to quality healthcare services. The question is, will the government take the necessary steps to retain its skilled healthcare professionals and improve the healthcare system? Only time will tell.
