Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for urgent policy reforms and incentives to curb the mass migration of Nigerian medical professionals abroad, a trend popularly known as ‘japa’.

He made the remarks on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Yeriman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Zamfara State.

Speaking to a gathering of stakeholders and health professionals, Obasanjo warned that Nigeria’s health sector is suffering from the continued loss of trained personnel to other countries in search of better working conditions.

“For hospitals, especially when many Nigerians who have been trained as medical personnel are ‘japa-ing’, which is going out of the country, looking for better conditions, how do you hold them here? You have to give them a bit of incentive,” he said.

INFRASTRUCTURE ALONE ISN’T ENOUGH

Obasanjo emphasized that while investments in infrastructure, such as the newly inaugurated hospital, are important, they must be matched with people-centered policies. A functional health system, he said, depends not just on buildings and equipment, but on the professionals who operate them.

“We need all the personnel that we can have because our hospitals have to deliver,” he continued. “You need the right environment—that includes refurbishment, renovation, the right equipment—and then you need the personnel.”

A SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in the migration of healthcare workers, particularly doctors and nurses. The National Hospital in Abuja reported that its workforce dropped from 3,000 to 2,500 within a year due to the ongoing brain drain. In 2022, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) warned that the loss of skilled workers was contributing to rising infant and maternal mortality rates.

The trend reflects a broader challenge across the country, where underfunding, poor working conditions, and limited career opportunities push professionals to seek employment abroad.

INSPIRING SOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE

Obasanjo’s remarks underscore a pressing need for transformative action. By focusing on policies that value, protect, and empower medical professionals, Nigeria can begin to reverse the tide of emigration and build a healthcare system that serves all citizens effectively.

Incentives—whether financial, professional, or institutional—are more than just perks; they are essential investments in national wellbeing.

With renewed leadership and community commitment, there is hope for a healthcare renaissance in Nigeria—one that not only heals, but also inspires