Nurses’ migration threatening Nigeria’s fragile health system — NANNM President
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- The President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Haruna Mamman, warned that the increasing migration of Nigerian nurses abroad is severely threatening the country's healthcare system.
- Mamman stated that over 57,000 Nigerian nurses have emigrated in the last five years, with approximately 16,000 going to the UK alone by December 2025.
- He attributed this "brain drain" to push factors such as poor remuneration, difficult working conditions, insecurity, and lack of career progression, urging government and stakeholders to address these issues.
The alarming exodus of Nigerian nurses and midwives represents a critical threat to our nation's already strained healthcare infrastructure. Haruna Mamman, President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), has sounded the alarm, highlighting a "brain drain" that is rapidly depleting our vital health workforce.
It is on record that Nigerian nurses and Midwives are among the best across the world.
With over 57,000 Nigerian nurses seeking greener pastures abroad in just five years, and a significant portion heading to the United Kingdom, the impact on healthcare delivery within Nigeria is dire. These are not just numbers; they represent experienced professionals, the backbone of our hospitals and clinics, leaving behind a system struggling to cope.
Nigeria-trained Nurses and Midwives are migrating in droves to other countries in search of better lives.
Mamman rightly points to the "push factors" driving this migration: inadequate pay, harsh working environments, pervasive insecurity, and a lack of opportunities for professional growth. It is a stark reality that many nurses wish to serve their own country, but the prevailing conditions make it untenable. This situation demands urgent attention from both the government and all stakeholders involved in the health sector.
For the past five years, over 57,000 Nigerian nurses have left the country for different parts of the world in search of greener pastures. This should call for greater concern from both the Government and other stakeholders.
The theme of this year's International Nurses Day, "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives," could not be more poignant. It underscores the urgent need for investment in our nurses – through improved welfare, safer workplaces, and genuine leadership opportunities. Failing to empower and retain our nurses means jeopardizing the future of healthcare in Nigeria and the well-being of our citizens.
Many Nurses wish to stay and work in Nigeria, but the ‘push factors,’ which include poor remuneration, poor working conditions, kidnapping/insecurity, non-career progression, lack of job opportunities, etc., keep pushing them to leave the country.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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