Health Worker Exodus Deepens as Policy Brief Warns of Systemic Risk to Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector

By: Michael Mike

A new policy brief has warned that unless urgent welfare-focused reforms are implemented, the country risks a deepening crisis that could undermine access to quality healthcare nationwide.

Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing mounting pressure as the steady departure of doctors and nurses continues to erode service capacity, raising concerns about long-term system viability.

According to the policy analysis authored by health policy expert Dr Emmanuel Ejimonu, of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, more than 42,000 nurses left Nigeria between 2021 and early 2024, while thousands of Nigerian-trained doctors have registered to practise abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom. The trend shows no sign of slowing, as survey data cited in the report indicate that nearly three-quarters of medical and nursing students intend to seek employment overseas, with about one in three expressing no plans to return.

The report attributed the exodus largely to domestic welfare and governance challenges rather than professional ambition. Health workers interviewed consistently pointed to low and irregular salaries, unsafe and overstretched working environments, limited opportunities for funded specialist training and weak social protection systems. These challenges, the brief notes, have made emigration a rational choice in the face of institutional uncertainty, especially as global demand for health professionals continues to rise.

Although the Federal Government introduced a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration in 2023 to promote ethical recruitment and retention, the brief argues that its impact has been limited. Implementation gaps, inadequate funding and uneven execution at state and facility levels have prevented the policy from delivering meaningful improvements in working conditions.

The consequences of sustained health worker losses are already visible. Teaching hospitals are reportedly struggling to maintain specialist training and mentorship programmes, while recurring strikes highlight growing mistrust between health workers and government authorities. Economically, the country is losing returns on public investments in training, even as staff shortages compromise care delivery in both urban and rural facilities. Remaining workers also face rising burnout, further fuelling migration intentions.

Drawing on international experiences from countries such as Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines and Cuba, the policy brief stresses that health worker migration cannot be completely stopped. Instead, it recommends managing mobility through welfare-based retention strategies and credible governance structures.

Central to the recommendations is a proposed Welfare-First Retention Package, which prioritises guaranteed and timely payment of salaries, improved workplace safety, funded career progression, fair bonding arrangements and strengthened social protection. The package also calls for disciplined use of bilateral agreements and ethical recruitment frameworks to protect Nigeria’s investment in health worker training.

The brief estimates that, if properly funded and implemented, the proposed measures could reduce short-term health worker attrition by up to one-third within two years, while significantly improving retention over a five-year period.

The report stated that reversing the health workforce crisis will require treating welfare reform as a core economic and governance priority, backed by political will, fiscal discipline and strong institutional coordination. Without such action, the report warns, Nigeria risks the gradual hollowing out of its healthcare system, with far-reaching consequences for public health and national development.

Health Worker Exodus Deepens as Policy Brief Warns of Systemic Risk to Nigeria’s Healthcare Sector

Odumegwu-Ojukwu Brokers Release of Nigerian Pastor Detained in Benin

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has secured the release of a Nigerian cleric, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who had been imprisoned in the Republic of Benin amid growing concerns over his deteriorating health and treatment in custody.

Pastor Egbaji, a businessman and religious leader from Cross River State, regained his freedom on Thursday, following a presidential pardon granted by Beninois President Patrice Talon.

The pardon, which was gazetted in December 2025, came after months of sustained diplomatic engagement by Nigeria.

Egbaji had been in detention for more than two years after being accused of various offences. He was initially held in a hospital in Cotonou under conditions described by officials as degrading, before being transferred to a correctional facility. His situation attracted national attention after images showing him visibly ill and restrained to a hospital bed circulated widely, triggering public outrage and diplomatic intervention.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Magnus Eze, said the release was the outcome of persistent appeals by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including her visit to Egbaji at a Cotonou hospital last year alongside Benin’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

She noted that Nigeria had repeatedly requested that the cleric be allowed to receive proper medical care or be transferred home to serve his sentence.

She attributed the success of the negotiations to President Bola Tinubu’s emphasis on citizen diplomacy, noting that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a priority under the administration’s foreign policy framework. The approach, she explained, aligns with the Diaspora pillar of the government’s Four-Ds strategy—Democracy, Demography, Diaspora and Development—under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister disclosed that she spoke with Pastor Egbaji shortly after his release and confirmed that he was in stable spirits, though still in need of medical attention. She added that the government would continue to support Nigerians facing legal or humanitarian challenges outside the country.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Benin Republic, Alhaji Mohammad Munir, commended Odumegwu-Ojukwu for what he described as her hands-on diplomacy and commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad. He also praised President Tinubu for prioritising the safety and rights of Nigerians in the diaspora, urging continued diplomatic efforts to assist citizens detained overseas.

The release of Pastor Egbaji has been welcomed by members of the Nigerian community in Benin, who described it as a strong demonstration of effective diplomacy and regional cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu Brokers Release of Nigerian Pastor Detained in Benin

Gombe Govt. commits to disability-inclusive WASH services

The Gombe State government has reiterated its commitment to promoting disability-inclusive access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services across the state.

Mr Mohammed Fawu, Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, gave the assurance during a roundtable on disability inclusion in the WASH sector on Thursday in Gombe.

Fawu said gaps in WASH facilities must be addressed to ensure they were fully accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive for persons with disabilities across the state.

He added that the state would adopt a disability-friendly approach in WASH project implementation, emphasising that inclusion was essential to achieving programme goals.

“Open defecation can only be eliminated and access to WASH services improved if everyone is carried along,” Fawu stated, stressing the need for inclusive planning and execution.

Dr Umar Musa, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer of the State Programme Implementation Unit, SURWASH Gombe, said the engagement aimed to assess progress, identify gaps, and propose inclusive solutions within the SURWASH framework.

He noted that strengthening disability inclusion in WASH facility design, implementation, and usage would improve public health and reduce costs related to illnesses from poor hygiene and sanitation.

Mr Mohammed Abubakar, board member of the Gombe State Commission for Persons with Disability, hailed the initiative, saying it would ease challenges faced by PWDs in accessing public infrastructure.

Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations (GONET), emphasised that inclusion was key to programme success and urged stakeholders to consult and involve PWDs at all planning stages.

The roundtable brought together disability groups, WASH stakeholders, government agencies, and community representatives to share experiences, identify gaps, and develop strategies for integrating the needs of persons with disabilities into WASH services.

Gombe Govt. commits to disability-inclusive WASH services