No fewer than 16,156 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have been licensed to practise in the United Kingdom between 2017 and September 30, 2025, according to the latest data from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The figures underscore a growing trend in the “japa” phenomenon, with skilled Nigerian healthcare professionals leaving the country for better pay, career advancement, and improved working conditions abroad. This migration presents a major challenge for Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly in underserved areas, highlighting the urgent need for policies to retain healthcare workers and strengthen domestic capacity.

The NMC, which regulates nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK, confirmed in an email that, “As on 30 September 2025, there were 16,156 nurses on the register who were educated in Nigeria.” This represents a 4.8 per cent increase from March 31, 2025, when 15,421 Nigerian-trained nurses were on the register.

In 2025, Nigeria ranked as the third-highest source of foreign-trained nurses in the UK, following the Philippines and India. While the number of UK-educated professionals joining the NMC register has continued to grow, it has not kept pace with the decline in international recruitment, slowing overall register growth in the past year.

Data from the 2025 Nigeria Health Statistics report, released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in November, show that a total of 43,221 doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical laboratory scientists left the country between 2023 and 2024. Of this number, over 23,000 nurses and midwives migrated abroad, with the most popular destinations being the United States (8,613), the United Kingdom (7,463), Canada (5,603), Saudi Arabia (1,231), and Ireland (989).

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, highlighted the severity of the shortage, noting that Nigeria’s doctor-to-population ratio stands at 1:5,000—far below the World Health Organization’s recommended 1:600—while the nurse-to-population ratio is 1:2,000, compared to the WHO’s 1:300 guideline.

Dr. Salako added that the government remains committed to addressing these gaps by strengthening primary healthcare systems, expanding the Health Workforce Registry, increasing training quotas for health professionals, and implementing retention policies aimed at curbing migration.