A total of 4,193 doctors and dentists left Nigeria for greener pastures in 2024, according to the Nigeria Health Statistics Report released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The report, obtained by our correspondent on Friday, shows that the migration of health workers surged by 200 per cent across all cadres between 2023 and 2024.
It notes that thousands of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and allied health workers, left the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
An analysis of the document reveals that 43,221 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists migrated out of the country between 2023 and 2024.
The figures highlight a deepening brain drain within Nigeria’s health sector, with highly skilled professionals relocating to countries offering better remuneration, career prospects and working conditions.
The report warns that the exodus poses a serious challenge to Nigeria’s healthcare system, especially in underserved areas, and underscores the urgent need for policies aimed at retaining health workers and strengthening domestic capacity.
It reads in part: “Nigeria’s health workforce recorded steady growth between 2022 and 2024 across major professional groups, with notable increases in doctors (18 per cent), nurses and midwives (13 per cent), pharmacists (27 per cent), and laboratory scientists (39 per cent), reflecting expanded training capacity and policy reforms.
