Nigeria Doctors Seek Life Abroad

Nigeria’s Great Exodus: A Nation’s Talent Takes Flight Amid Economic Storm

Nigeria, the African continent’s most substantial economy, is grappling with a profound crisis over the expense of everyday life that has ignited a mass departure of its skilled professionals, particularly doctors. In an effort to restore faith in the severely strained national currency, the naira, the government is unveiling redesigned bank-notes, a measure not seen in over two decades. With inflation having recently peaked, ordinary citizens are finding it incredibly difficult to afford basic necessities, a situation that is propelling an unprecedented surge in departures among the nation’s brightest young talents. The Yoruba term “japa,” which signifies running away or getting out, now dominates conversations online and on the airwaves, a stark symbol of the national mood.

The Personal Cost of a Failing Economy

The struggle to survive has become a daily reality for millions. Oroma Cookey Gam, a fashion designer, articulated the sheer incredulity many feel when facing rampant price hikes. She questioned how a family is meant to cope when grocery costs triple overnight, forcing impossible choices about what to cut from the household budget. Twelve months prior, she and her family left Nigeria’s sprawling metropolis, Lagos, for London. Her husband Osione, an artist, secured a Global Talent visa. This permit provides a pathway for leaders in arts, culture, and technology to find employment within the United Kingdom. She explained that raising their children in Lagos had become an untenable financial burden, as their money bought progressively smaller amounts, making it impossible to cover bills and maintain a normal life.

From Hopeful Return to Reluctant Departure

Oroma’s journey reflects a wider disillusionment. After completing her legal studies at Northumbria University in the UK, she returned to Nigeria nearly two decades prior, filled with a desire to contribute to her country’s development. She and Osione established This Is Us, an eco-conscious clothing and lifestyle brand that champions local artisans and materials, utilizing cotton cultivated and colored in Nigeria's northern region. For a time, their business model, which relied entirely on Nigerian resources, shielded them from the worst of the economic downturn. They managed to absorb initial cost increases while others raised their prices. However, the crisis eventually caught up with them, as their domestic customers could no longer purchase discretionary goods such as new clothing.

A Generation’s Dreams Deferred

The economic hardship has created a stark generational divide. Oroma recalled conversations with her mother, which revealed a past where buying a house or a car was an achievable goal for young people. This realisation brought a painful clarity; her inability to reach similar milestones was not a personal failing but a reflection of a system that no longer worked for its citizens. This sentiment resonates across Nigeria, fuelling the largest exodus of its citizens seen in a long time. While precise statistics are scarce, the quantity of work visas granted to Nigerians by the UK has multiplied fourfold from 2019 levels, and student visas have surged by an astonishing 700%. Daily, long queues form outside immigration centres, a visible testament to the widespread desire for a life abroad.

The Creative Drain and the Global Talent Pathway

The exodus is not confined to one sector. Creatives are also seeking opportunities elsewhere, with the UK's Global Talent visa becoming a popular route. Between 2019 and 2024, there was a 2,225% increase in applications from Nigeria for this visa. Nigerian creatives have submitted 729 applications across various artistic fields, second only to the United States. In the fashion category specifically, Nigerians now lead, with 291 applications filed in the same period, more than four times the number from China. This surge, partly fuelled by social media guides on navigating the application process, highlights a powerful combination of burgeoning Nigerian talent and a lack of viable opportunities at home.

Healthcare on Life Support: The Doctors’ Flight

The most alarming aspect of this "brain drain" is the haemorrhaging of medical professionals. The Nigerian Medical Association reports that a minimum of 50 physicians depart the nation every week. Substandard employment environments, inadequate compensation, alongside the relentless rise in daily expenses are the primary drivers. Over the last five years, Nigeria has lost approximately 16,000 doctors to emigration. This has left the country with only 55,000 licensed doctors to care for a population of over 200 million, a situation the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has acknowledged is a significant challenge. The UK is the top destination, with reports indicating that 67% of migrating Nigerian doctors practise there.

A Doctor’s Story: From Ibadan to Scotland

Kunle Ibisola, a physician early in his career, embodies the difficult choices facing medical staff. Formerly with the University College Hospital in Ibadan, he is currently employed by Scotland's NHS. He recounted that leaving Nigeria was never his desire; his ambition was to build his career and practice in his home country. However, the disparity in remuneration and the expense of daily life became impossible to ignore. A few hours of overtime in Britain, he noted, could earn him an amount comparable to what he earned in a full month back in Nigeria. The decision to leave was solidified when his hospital began losing doctors in droves, some of whom had not been paid for as long as nine months, leaving them unable to afford transport to their jobs or school fees for their children.

A System in Critical Condition

This exodus has placed immense pressure on the healthcare professionals who remain. Stories of feeling exhausted and undercompensated are universal among those who have relocated over the preceding 24 months. The future looks bleak, as even current medical students are planning their exit strategies. There is a prevailing sense that remaining in Nigeria is seen as a sign of misfortune or a lack of financial means. With nearly 10,500 Nigerians working in the UK's National Health Service, Nigeria ranks as the fifth largest foreign contributor to its workforce. This vital contribution abroad comes at a devastating cost to the health of Nigerians at home.

The Crippling Cost of Food

At the heart of Nigeria's economic crisis is soaring food inflation. An economic analyst with SBM Intelligence, Cheta Nwanze, employs a metric called the "Jollof Index" to illustrate the problem. This index tracks the typical expense to prepare a large dish of jollof rice, a West African staple, for a household of five people. In early 2016, the meal cost less than 4,000 naira; by mid-2025, it had skyrocketed to over 27,000 naira. Although there has been a slight dip recently, with the cost falling to around 26,656 naira in September 2025, the relief is considered fragile and statistical, masking deeper structural issues.

Roots of the Food Crisis

While global factors like the conflict in Ukraine as well as the pandemic have played a role, Nigeria’s food crisis is exacerbated by domestic issues. Insecurity in the nation’s northern food-producing regions is a primary cause. Attacks by extremists and abductors have prevented many farmers from planting crops for several years. This violence, coupled with government protectionist policies regarding the importation of food and a rapidly growing population, means there is simply less food available for more people, inevitably driving prices higher. The situation has left millions facing acute food insecurity.

Scenes from the Marketplace

The consequences of this situation are palpable in local markets. At a modest food market in Ajah, a Lagos suburb, footfall is noticeably lower. A market vendor, Omowunmi Ajekigbe, observed that while prices were manageable last year, they have now become excessive. She lamented the absence of the usual bustling crowds of customers. Nearby, a caterer named Cordelia Fidelis expressed her alarm at the speed of the price increases. The price of yams had increased by over 100 percent in a brief two-month span, and costs for eggs, beef, and palm oil were all described as "crazy." This reality is forcing families to make drastic decisions to survive.

Desperate Measures and Enduring Poverty

For many, survival means eating less. A retired educator, Angela Chukwulozie, revealed that her family has cut back from three meals a day to two after the cost of all goods escalated. Such stories are widespread in a nation where, even with its status as Africa's most substantial economy, a staggering number of people live in poverty. Data from the World Bank indicates an estimated 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty as of October 2025, a significant increase over the last few years. This harsh economic reality is now a central issue in the country’s political landscape.

Government Response and Economic Reforms

The government, under President Bola Tinubu, has introduced major economic reforms, including the removal of a long-standing fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates. While these moves were intended to stabilise the economy in the long term, they have caused immediate hardship, contributing to the sharp rise in the price of everyday life. The administration has acknowledged these challenges, urging patience and promising that the funds saved will be redirected to critical sectors like infrastructure and healthcare. However, many citizens remain sceptical, feeling the pain of the reforms without yet seeing the benefits.

The Naira Redesign: A Contested Solution

The Central Bank’s decision to introduce new banknotes was presented as a measure to curb inflation and bring more cash returning to the formal banking system. The bank claimed that eighty percent of the currency in circulation was being held outside of banks, and the redesign was intended to give it better control over the money supply. However, the policy’s rollout was fraught with problems, leading to severe cash shortages that disrupted the economy, particularly the informal sector which relies heavily on cash transactions. While the long-term success of the currency change is still debated, inflation has recently shown signs of easing, dropping to 18.02% in September 2025.

A Glimmer of Hope Amid the Hardship

Despite the immense challenges, a sense of optimism for Nigeria’s future persists among some. From her new base in London, Oroma Cookey Gam remains deeply connected to her homeland, returning every few months. She believes her home country is at a pivotal moment and that there is still time for a positive transformation. The country’s potential, she insists, is amazing. The key lies in addressing fundamental issues: providing quality education, ensuring a reliable electricity supply, and building better roads. If these basics can be achieved, alongside improved security, she feels the nation can finally begin to fulfil its promise. Her hope reflects the enduring spirit of a nation longing for change.