Nigeria Doctor Emigration (Japa): Figures and Consequences

"Japa", Nigerian slang for leaving the country, has become shorthand for one of the biggest problems facing the country's health system. Nigerian doctors are leaving for the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland and the Gulf, and those who stay carry heavier workloads. Here is what the verified figures say, how the government has responded, and what the exodus means for hospitals and the doctors who remain.

The numbers

Exact figures are hard to pin down, because sources mix doctors and nurses and count "registered" and "practising" doctors differently. The most reliable official statements are these:

In April 2025, Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate told a workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa, hosted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, that over 16,000 doctors had left the country in the last five to seven years. He put the doctor-to-population ratio at about 3.9 per 10,000.
In 2024 the minister said Nigeria had 85,000 to 90,000 registered doctors, but only about 55,000 were licensed to practise in the country. Many of the rest work abroad, especially in the UK and the US.
In the UK, a study citing General Medical Council data from March 2023 counted more than 10,900 Nigerian doctors, making Nigeria one of the largest sources of internationally trained doctors in the UK after India and Pakistan.

The pipeline is also at risk. A 2025 study in BMC Medical Education found that nearly 75% of the Nigerian medical and nursing students surveyed planned to pursue opportunities overseas.

Nigeria also appears on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023. The list covers 55 countries with fewer than 49 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people and low universal health coverage. The WHO does not ban recruitment from these countries, but it asks destination countries to consider the impact on the source country's health system.

Why doctors leave

Studies of push and pull factors and reporting in Nigeria point to the same causes:

low pay, worsened by inflation and the fall of the naira
heavy workloads and long call hours
poor equipment and infrastructure in many public hospitals
limited training and career progression
insecurity and concerns about personal safety
active recruitment and clear licensing routes in destination countries

The policy response

The rejected "five-year bond" bill

In 2023 a private member's bill in the House of Representatives proposed that Nigeria-trained doctors practise locally for five years before receiving a full licence. It passed second reading, but the Federal Government said it was "not workable" and contrary to labour laws. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors threatened to strike. The bond approach has not become law.

The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration (2024)

On 12 August 2024 the Federal Government approved a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration. It aims to manage migration, not prohibit it, around three goals:

better data and tracking of health worker movements
improved retention, especially in rural and underserved areas, through incentives such as special allowances, credit, tax and mortgage facilities
ethical, bilateral and managed migration, in line with the WHO Global Code of Practice

In January 2026, Nigeria Health Watch assessed the policy's progress. It called it an important foundation, but said that its success depends on financing and accountability, which were still lagging.

Consequences for the system and for those who stay

Workload: fewer doctors for a growing population means longer clinics, more calls and higher burnout risk for the remaining staff.
Training gaps: the departure of senior registrars and consultants weakens supervision of residents.
Service closures: some units cannot run safely when specialists leave, especially outside large cities.
Rising costs: hospitals spend more on recruitment, locums and induction.

For hospital leaders, retention is now a management priority. It covers more than pay: predictable rotas, a working environment, training opportunities and less administrative work all matter.

Key takeaways

The government estimates that over 16,000 doctors left in five to seven years, and only about 55,000 doctors were licensed to practise in Nigeria in 2024.
Nigeria is on the WHO 2023 safeguards list of countries with critical workforce shortages.
The 2024 migration policy focuses on data, retention and managed migration, but funding remains the test.
Bonding bills that force doctors to stay have been rejected as unworkable.
Reducing administrative and documentation work is one of the few retention levers hospitals control directly.

Frequently asked questions

How many doctors have left Nigeria?

In April 2025 the health minister estimated that over 16,000 doctors had left in the previous five to seven years. In 2024 he said about 55,000 of 85,000 to 90,000 registered doctors were licensed to practise in Nigeria.

Has Nigeria banned doctors from emigrating?

No. A 2023 bill proposing five years of compulsory local service was opposed by the government. Instead, the 2024 National Policy on Health Workforce Migration aims to manage migration and improve retention.

Is Nigeria on the WHO health workforce safeguards list?

Yes. Nigeria is among the 55 countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023.

Sources

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General information, checked at the publication date; it is neither medical nor legal advice.