UK’s Soaring Demand for Nigerian Nurses Leaves Health Sector Reeling

UK’s Soaring Demand for Nigerian Nurses Leaves Health Sector Reeling

Nigeria is losing its nurses and midwives in droves, and there’s no slowing down in sight.

According to fresh data from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), a staggering 14,815 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have received licenses to practice in the United Kingdom between 2017 and September 2024. That’s not a typo. Fourteen thousand, eight hundred and fifteen.

Let that number sink in.

Now here’s the kicker: between March 31 and September 30, 2024—a span of just six months—an additional 1,159 Nigerian nurses and midwives were added to the UK register. That’s an 8.5% jump in half a year. These professionals are not just taking their talents abroad—they’re running, or as the Nigerian slang says, japa-ing.

The UK’s NMC register had 13,656 Nigerian healthcare professionals by March. But in just a few months, the figure ballooned to 14,815. For context, this increase happened during a period when international recruitment from countries like Nigeria is officially discouraged under the World Health Organization’s “red list” guidance—a non-binding agreement that frowns on the active recruitment of healthcare workers from countries with critical shortages. Clearly, that’s not stopping anyone.

The numbers also tell a bigger story. As of September 30, 2024, the UK’s total register of nurses and midwives hit 841,367. That’s an increase of 14,949 over the last six months, and a whopping 151,629 since March 2017.

Even more telling? For the first time ever, over 200,000 internationally educated professionals are now officially registered in the UK. That’s 200,362 non-UK trained individuals—up by 10,145 (5.3%) from March 2024 alone.

Now, Nigerian nurses aren’t the only ones heading to the UK, but they’re in the top five. India leads the pack with 67,576 nurses and midwives—making up 8% of the entire UK workforce in that sector. The Philippines follows with over 50,000 professionals. Then comes Nigeria, Romania (7,357), and Ghana (6,362).

Also READ: Japa: Doctor-Patient Ratio Worsening – NMA

But Nigeria’s situation isn’t just about numbers. It’s about impact.

At the Association of Medical Councils of Africa workshop held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, didn’t mince words. He called it what it is—brain drain, and a brutal one at that.

While he acknowledged that Nigeria has a world-class training system for health workers, he admitted that the nation’s medical talents are increasingly serving foreign hospitals instead of local ones. And who could blame them? Many are chasing better pay, decent working conditions, and a functioning health system—none of which Nigeria currently guarantees.

“It’s not just Nigeria,” Dr. Salako pointed out. “It’s a continental crisis.” He wasn’t wrong.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bleed skilled healthcare workers to Europe, the Gulf, and North America. The lure of greener pastures has become a nightmare for health policymakers in Africa. What’s worse, the situation keeps repeating like a scratched CD—train, lose, repeat.

Salako suggested a change in how this migration is viewed. Rather than calling it a loss, he proposed the term health workforce export. If that sounds like a stretch, here’s the idea behind it—since rich nations benefit from the skills of African-trained health workers, shouldn’t they also pay for it?

It’s not just a rhetorical question. Salako wants these destination countries to help fund the education and infrastructure of the countries they’re hiring from. Legally binding bilateral agreements, he says, should enforce this. Otherwise, poorer nations will keep subsidizing the rich ones. Think of it like this: Nigeria pays for the education, the UK enjoys the service. It’s a free ride on Nigeria’s dime.

Now, even though the UK’s recruitment of Nigerian nurses saw a 16.1% drop compared to last year, the overall trend remains strong. And it’s not just about percentages. Real people—mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers—are leaving their country in search of a life that respects their work and rewards their effort.

Nurses in Nigeria have long complained about poor pay, unpaid salaries, lack of basic medical equipment, and unsafe working conditions. It’s no wonder they take the first opportunity to leave. And leave they do—quietly, quickly, and with very little fanfare. You might see one today, and tomorrow they’re gone. One suitcase, one ticket, one dream.

The UK’s growing dependence on foreign healthcare workers reflects the same struggles from another angle. Their own workforce is aging, tired, and overburdened. They need fresh hands. And Nigeria, with its English-speaking, internationally-educated professionals, is the perfect donor.

There’s also a noticeable shift in the demographics of the UK healthcare workforce. According to the latest NMC data, professionals from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds now make up 31.7% of the register. That’s up by more than a full percentage point in just six months. Nigeria is a major part of that change.

Interestingly, while Nigeria and Ghana saw decreases in the number of new joiners, Nepal’s numbers more than doubled. That means recruitment strategies may be shifting based on regulations, costs, and immigration policies. But the reality remains: the global health industry thrives on migration.

Yet back home, the consequences are biting.

Hospitals in Nigeria are short-staffed. Rural clinics barely have trained personnel. Patients wait hours—sometimes days—for basic care. And those still working in the system are burning out fast.

Salako warned that if nothing is done, Nigeria could reach a point where its health system collapses from within—not because it lacks the tools, but because it has no hands to hold them.

He proposed three things: give better incentives to retain health workers, improve collaboration among African nations, and standardize training to meet both local and international needs. That sounds good on paper. But on the ground, the system is still failing.

At this point, the “Japa” phenomenon isn’t just a youth trend. It’s a national emergency. And while the UK might celebrate the boost to its health workforce, Nigeria is left with empty wards and overwhelmed workers.

It’s time for serious policy overhauls. Not more workshops. Not more committees. Not more empty promises.

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Until Nigerian nurses and midwives are paid what they deserve, treated with dignity, and given working environments that don’t feel like war zones, they will continue to leave. And the UK, along with other countries, will keep welcoming them with open arms.

Because at the end of the day, talent goes where it’s valued.