A Consultant Neurologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Prof. Kolawole Wahab, says the increasing migration of doctors abroad is threatening effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Wahab stated this on Wednesday in Ilorin while delivering a paper at the Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter.
The conference is part of activities organised to mark the chapter’s 2026 Physicians’ Week, with the theme, “Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria”.
Wahab, who is the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences at the University of Ilorin, said the current wave of migration, popularly known as the “Japa syndrome”, differed from previous trends.
According to him, professionals previously travelled abroad mainly for training before returning to contribute to national development.
He identified poor remuneration, unfavourable working conditions, inadequate infrastructure and insecurity as major drivers of the exodus.
He said the consequences were already being felt in hospitals through long waiting times and delays in emergency response.
Wahab said Nigeria currently had about four doctors per 10,000 people, compared with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended ratio of 30 doctors per 10,000 people.
“There is a need for urgent government intervention through improved remuneration, better welfare packages, upgraded infrastructure and enhanced security for doctors,” he said.
The neurologist also expressed concern about the mental health implications of burnout among doctors.
According to him, excessive workloads and prolonged duty hours were exposing doctors to anxiety, depression and other psychological challenges.
“Doctors working 24-hour calls without adequate rest could easily be overwhelmed, and patients sometimes mistook exhaustion for negligence,” he said.
He called for regular mental health assessments and support for medical professionals.
Also speaking, a Consultant Cardiologist at UITH, Prof. Philip Kolo, called for adequate manpower to implement the Ministry of Health’s recommendations on working hours.
He spoke on the sub-theme, “Saving the Savers: Promoting Physicians’ Well-being and Preventing Burnout and Cardiovascular Diseases”.
Kolo said doctors attending to more than 40 patients were often pressured to see even more patients because of manpower shortages, a situation that could lead to excessive stress and burnout.
On cardiovascular health, Kolo listed smoking, hypertension, diabetes and obesity as major risk factors. He urged medical practitioners and members of the public to prioritise regular health checks and early detection.
“Hypertension and diabetes can remain undiagnosed for years before resulting in serious complications, including stroke,” he warned.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of NMA-Kwara, Dr Suleiman Rotimi, called for urgent policy reforms.
Rotimi also called for improved working conditions to address the migration of doctors and secure the future of medical practice.
He identified manpower shortages, assaults on physicians, insecurity, poor remuneration, burnout, and the challenges of modernisation and digitalisation as major concerns confronting the profession.
He said the safety, dignity and welfare of doctors must be prioritised, noting that physicians working in unsafe and unconducive environments could not provide optimal healthcare services.
The NMA chairman also called for increased training capacity and reforms in medical education to meet growing demand driven by population growth.
Rotimi urged medical schools to update their curricula in line with modern realities.
