More than 14,000 Nigerian nurses and midwives have relocated to the United Kingdom in the past five years in search of better professional opportunities, according to new figures from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The council reported that between April and September 2024 alone, 1,159 Nigerian-trained health workers were added to the UK’s professional register — an 8.5 per cent increase in just six months. While registration does not confirm employment, it marks a consistent upward trend that highlights the ongoing migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals to foreign countries.
Nigerian Nurse and the reason for moving
As of September 30, 2024, the UK’s NMC register listed over 200,000 foreign-trained professionals, with Nigeria ranking third after India and the Philippines in terms of the number of registered nurses and midwives. Despite a 16.1 per cent drop in new Nigerian additions compared to the previous year, the country remains one of the UK’s primary sources of health workers.
The exodus has sparked growing concern among health stakeholders and government officials in Nigeria. Speaking at the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) conference in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, described the persistent brain drain as a major threat to Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system.
“Nigeria produces some of the world’s best doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, but they leave in droves for better prospects abroad,” Salako said. “While we are proud of their global impact, we must also address the damage this is doing to our own health sector.”
He called for African countries to work together on forming legally binding agreements with nations like the UK, which benefit from Africa’s medical talent. Such agreements, he proposed, should include commitments from receiving countries to support training and infrastructure development in source countries.
Salako also urged the Nigerian government to focus on retaining its healthcare workforce by improving incentives, working conditions, and overall support.
Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Mrs. Serat Ojei, echoed these concerns. She revealed that LUTH has seen its nursing staff shrink from over 700 to just 340 in recent years, creating immense pressure on the remaining personnel.
“Poor salaries, inadequate facilities, and burnout are driving our nurses away,” Ojei said at a media event hosted by the Festus Fajemiko Foundation in Lagos. “The government must act now — we need better pay, improved working environments, and policies that encourage our professionals to stay.”
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