Over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in the past five years, worsening the already severe manpower shortage in the medical field. According to recent data, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, has registered over 130,000 doctors, but only about 55,000 of them are actively practicing in Nigeria, according to Prof. Omoti Ernest, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
With a population of more than 220 million, he noted, this equates to around one doctor for every 3,600 to 4,000 people. He stated that in order to address this trend, the federal government should give healthcare workers' wages and benefits first priority, make greater investments in hospital facilities and modern medical technology, provide opportunities for residency and specialized training, and establish clear career advancement paths.