The Federal Government said that in the last five to seven years alone, not less than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in search of greener pastures on faraway shores.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, made this known at the seventh annual capacity building workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Abuja on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

The Minister also disclosed that the doctor-to-population ratio is now 3.9 per 10,000 in the country, while the estimated cost of training one doctor exceeds $21,000.

Meanwhile, he lamented that the mass exodus of nurses and midwives has also significantly diminished the number of healthcare workers in the country.

ALSO READ: Thinking of moving back to Nigeria? Here’s how to reverse-japa

According to Pate, an increasing number of Nigeria’s talented healthcare professionals aspire to work in other countries. He noted that these citizens are being driven by factors including economic opportunity, better working conditions, more advanced training, and superior research environments.

He said that though the migration of health professionals from developing countries isn’t a new phenomenon, the trend has accelerated in recent years.

“In Nigeria alone, over 16,000 doctors are estimated to have left the country in the last five to seven years, with thousands more leaving in just the past few years. Nurses and midwives have also thinned in numbers. The doctor-to-population ratio now stands at around 3.9 per 10,000—well below the suggested global minimum.

“But this trend is not just about people leaving. It represents a fiscal loss. The estimated cost of training one doctor exceeds $21,000—a figure that reflects the magnitude of public financing walking out of our countries. It deeply affects our health systems—leaving many of our rural communities critically underserved,” the minister said.

Minister sees opportunity in Japa trend

However, Pate expressed belief that the trend offers the government an opportunity to recalibrate its policies and manage the valuable health workforce in ways that benefit the country first and foremost.

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“In Nigeria, guided by the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who African Heads of State appointed as the AU’s Continental Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery, we are pursuing a new direction. His vision is for Nigeria to become a prosperous, people-oriented country that contributes to a peaceful and thriving continent.

“Not a standalone Nigeria, but a Nigeria that is interlinked with all our neighbours and sister countries. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and within the framework of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, we have embraced a new path—combining strategic realism with visionary ambition.

ALSO READ: Doctor vows never to leave Nigeria amid japa trend – here’s why

“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is a cornerstone of this path. It is designed to address health workforce migration with dignity—dignity for health workers, for the country, and the profession. It is data-driven, evidence-guided, and signals a clear direction. This is not a restrictive policy, nor is it one born out of resignation.

“We understand that the global health workforce shortage is at 18 million, and countries in the Global North face their human resource crises due to demographics and other factors. But our response is based on stewardship—balancing the rights of health professionals to seek opportunities abroad with our duty to protect the integrity and viability of our national health system,” he added.

Former Governor of Rivers State, Ada George, has blamed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the political unrest currently rocking the state, alleging that the minister is behind the controversial imposition of a state of emergency and the appointment of sole administrators across all 23 local government areas. Ada George, who served as governor from 1992 to 1993 and now chairs the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, made the claims during a media briefing following the latest developments in the state’s political crisis. He accused the FCT Minister of attempting to ignite instability after failing to assert political control over the state’s leadership. The FCT Minister is the architect of all these things, George said. He could set ablaze states where the governors did not share his views. And that is exactly what I think he is trying to do in Rivers State. Enough is enough. We will not allow him to set Rivers State ablaze anymore. He claimed the minister was in Rivers State shortly before the controversial announcements were made. He was reported to have been here on the 7th, Monday evening, traversing the whole place, visiting the military administrator. Then following that, this announcement came through, George said. He described the appointment of sole administrators as unconstitutional and a clear threat to democracy. There are laid down legal processes for constituting local government leadership. This action undermines those principles. While expressing the forums commitment to peaceful resolution, the elder statesman cautioned that Rivers people would not sit idly by in the face of continued provocation. We cannot go physical but we will resist in any form that will attempt to disrupt or disorganize this state. Despite the rising tension, George noted that the forum initially hoped the minister would take a reconciliatory path. We hoped he would consult with stakeholders for peacebuilding, to calm tensions, and to resolve the issues between the two partiesnot escalate them, he said. Quoting Nigerias first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, George called for calm and patience among stakeholders: Surulere, Surulerebe patient, be silent. He also disclosed that the Rivers Elders Forum had written to both Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike at the beginning of the crisis, but neither responded. We did communicate in writing to both the warring parties but unfortunately, we didnt have the courtesy of receiving a reply from any of them. George reaffirmed the forums commitment to lawful processes and legal redress. We will go to court where necessary. We have cases in court at the moment, and we will continue, he said. The post Former Rivers Governor Ada George accuses Wike of masterminding state of emergency appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

The Federal Government has calmed some frayed nerves by confirming that the naira-for-crude initiative with local refineries, including Dangote, is a key policy directive designed to ensure sustainable local refining.

The government stressed that the initiative isn’t a temporary measure, and as such, it is still in effect and will continue immediately.

The assurance, given by the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, at a meeting with representatives of the Dangote Refinery on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, overruled an earlier decision of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), under its former boss Mele Kyari, which tenured the naira-for-crude initiative.

This comes after the Ministry of Finance said the Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative met on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

ALSO READ: Dangote shuts down fuel supply to Nigeria as naira-for-crude deal stalls

According to a post on its official X account on Wednesday, the Finance Ministry said the Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative met on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

The meeting had in attendance Edun, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee; Zacch Adedeji, the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee and Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Dapo Segun, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL; the Coordinator of NNPC Refineries; the management of NNPC Trading; and representatives of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.

“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” the statement partly read.

“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.

“As with any major policy shift, the Committee acknowledges that implementation challenges may arise from time to time. However, such issues are being actively addressed through coordinated efforts among all parties.

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“The initiative remains in effect and will continue for as long as it aligns with the public interest and supports national economic objectives.”

ALSO READ: How oil loans are disrupting Nigeria’s Naira-for-crude deal

Other attendees of the meeting include senior officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), a representative of Afreximbank, and the Secretary of the Committee, Hauwa Ibrahim.

Update on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira Initiative

The Technical Sub-Committee on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative convened an update meeting on Tuesday to review progress and address ongoing implementation matters.

The meeting was attended… pic.twitter.com/Y2DkuUXZu2

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— Federal Ministry of Finance (@FinMinNigeria) April 9, 2025