Experts Warn That ‘Japa’ Exodus Threatens Nigeria’s Healthcare System

Health experts have sounded the alarm over the mass migration of Nigerian medical professionals popularly called “Japa” warning that the trend poses a severe threat to the nation’s already fragile healthcare system.

The warning was issued during the quadrennial Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Memorial Lecture, hosted by the IFEMED Journal Club under the Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students’ Association, held on Thursday at the university’s Ile-Ife campus.

The event, which focused on the escalating brain drain in the health sector, featured distinguished guests, including the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Muhammed (represented by Prof. John Okeniyi, CMD of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital), and Prof. Kayode Ijadunola, former Vice Chancellor of Elizade University and keynote speaker.

Representing the minister, Prof. Okeniyi lamented that the mass exodus of medical practitioners undermines the legacy of the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, “who believed in the Nigerian patient’s right to the highest standards of care.” He, however, noted a growing “reverse Japa trend,” with some professionals returning home an indication that reforms in the health sector are beginning to yield positive outcomes.

Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Roger Makanjuola, paid tribute to Ransome-Kuti, describing him as “absolutely incorruptible” and urging Nigerians to protect the health institutions he helped to build through integrity and service.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Ijadunola criticized what he called the Federal Government’s “tokenistic” attempts to address the brain drain crisis. He warned that ignoring the mass migration of skilled health professionals would cripple the nation’s ability to provide quality healthcare.

“Any country that does not take seriously the migration of its critical human resource and resorts to tokenism as an abating remedial strategy seriously undermines its self-sabotaging instinct,” he said.

Citing disturbing statistics, he revealed that Nigeria currently has only 1.83 skilled health workers per 1,000 people, far below the World Health Organisation’s standard of 4.45 per 1,000. Out of 55,000 licensed doctors in the country, about 17,000 have already migrated abroad.

Tracing the crisis back to decades of neglect, Ijadunola recalled that as early as 1988, during General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, a presidential committee was set up to tackle brain drain among disillusioned professionals a problem that persists nearly four decades later.

He proposed urgent reforms, including merit-based promotions, improved remuneration, and structured opportunities for diaspora professionals to contribute to local healthcare delivery. “By building stronger institutions and confronting corruption through transparency and efficient management, Nigeria can rebuild its health sector,” he concluded.

The event also featured the 6th National Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Memorial Essay Competition, themed “Global Health Workforce Migration and Its Impact on the Nigerian Health Sector.” From over 200 entries, Yusuf Suleman Zabairub of Ahmadu Bello University clinched first place, while Buhari Ahmad of the University of Ilorin and Abubakar Daniel Bade of the University of Maiduguri placed second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, the healthcare crisis continues to deepen as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced plans to begin a nationwide indefinite strike on November 1, following the government’s failure to meet their demands.

NARD President Muhammad Suleiman revealed that the Federal Government owes doctors and other health workers approximately ₦38 billion in accumulated allowances. He stated that preparations for the strike are already underway, with doctors conducting ward rounds and patient handovers ahead of the November 1 action.