Nigeria’s Recurring Doctor Shortage

The revelation by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that the state is facing a shortage of approximately 40,000 doctors and 40,000 nurses is another troubling indication of the deepening manpower crisis in Nigeria’s health sector.

Speaking at the opening of the second Eko Health Convention, the governor disclosed that Lagos currently has only about 7,000 doctors, a number he said was grossly inadequate to meet the healthcare needs of the state’s rapidly growing population.

He also warned that the state’s healthcare system requires at least an additional N100 billion beyond its current budget to adequately cater for its residents.

The situation in Lagos is not an isolated one. Across the country, the shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals has become a persistent challenge, placing enormous pressure on an already fragile healthcare system.

Health experts have repeatedly warned that unless urgent measures are taken to address the shortage, access to quality and affordable healthcare will continue to deteriorate.

Recent data from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) indicate that more than 130,000 doctors have been registered in the country, but only about 55,000 are actively practising in Nigeria.

With a population of an estimated 220 million, this represents a severely inadequate doctor-to-patient ratio and highlights the extent of the manpower crisis.

The situation has been worsened by the mass migration of Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals in search of better remuneration, working conditions, professional development and safer environments abroad.

The so-called “Japa” syndrome has drained the country of valuable human resources at a time when the population and demand for healthcare are increasing.

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s assertion that doctors in Lagos are effectively doing the work of several doctors because of the manpower shortage illustrates the burden placed on those remaining in the system.

Excessive workloads can result in burnout, fatigue, medical errors and declining quality of care. More importantly, they make it increasingly difficult for doctors to provide patients with the attention and time they deserve.

The problem is even more acute in many parts of the country, particularly rural and underserved communities. According to the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, significant regional disparities have left some areas struggling to provide even basic healthcare services.

In several northern states, community health practitioners have increasingly become the backbone of healthcare delivery in rural communities and primary healthcare centres because of the scarcity of doctors.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has noted that Kano, despite its large population, has only about 1,300 doctors serving more than 20 million people. Other states, including Taraba, Zamfara and Kebbi, have some of the lowest numbers of doctors in the country.

Even states with relatively higher concentrations of medical professionals, such as Lagos, Edo, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory, are struggling to cope with growing demand.

The consequences extend beyond physical healthcare. At the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, doctors lamented that the shortage of manpower was worsening access to psychiatric services and leaving millions of vulnerable Nigerians without adequate treatment.

The doctors reportedly noted that at least 16,000 Nigerian doctors had emigrated in the past five years.

The continued departure of medical professionals has severely depleted the mental health workforce, widened treatment gaps, increased the cost of care and placed enormous pressure on the few specialists who remain.

The Federal Government and state governments must therefore treat the healthcare workforce crisis as an emergency.

While the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has a policy of posting doctors and other medical corps members to rural areas, many still end up concentrated in urban tertiary institutions and general hospitals.

Rural healthcare facilities must be made attractive enough to retain both permanent and temporary medical personnel.

The NMA also pointed out that many rural primary healthcare centres lack basic electricity, clean water, diagnostic equipment and essential medicines.

Insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping and communal clashes, further discourages healthcare workers from accepting rural postings. It is unrealistic to expect doctors to remain in underserved communities without providing them with safe working environments, decent accommodation, functional facilities and appropriate incentives.

While increased funding for medical education and the recruitment of more healthcare workers are essential, Nigeria must also explore innovative solutions.

The call by the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mobihealth International, Dr Funmi Adewara, for telehealth to become a core component of healthcare policy and workforce strategy deserves serious consideration.

Telehealth can enable specialists to extend their services beyond hospitals and urban centres, while digital platforms can facilitate consultations, mentorship, training and multidisciplinary decision-making.

Nigerian specialists living abroad could also contribute to healthcare delivery remotely, helping to reduce the impact of brain drain.

However, technology cannot replace the need for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. It should complement, rather than substitute, a comprehensive strategy for expanding and retaining the healthcare workforce.

Nigeria cannot continue to train doctors for export while its hospitals and primary healthcare centres remain understaffed.

The Federal Government and the states must urgently address poor remuneration, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity and unfavourable working conditions that drive medical professionals abroad.

The recurring doctor shortage is not merely a professional concern; it is a threat to public health and national development.

A country cannot build a productive population when its citizens cannot access timely and quality healthcare.

The time has come to move beyond repeated warnings and adopt practical, well-funded and sustainable measures to train, recruit, retain and protect Nigeria’s healthcare workers.

Only then can the country begin to reverse the damaging effects of the brain drain and build a health system capable of meeting the needs of its growing population.