NANNM President warns that nurses' migrationthreatens Nigeria's fragile health system

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Haruna Mamman, warned that the rising outflow of Nigerian nurses to foreign countries is jeopardising an already fragile health system.

Mamman addressed the audience on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2026 International Nurses Day celebration held at the NANNM Conference Hall, where he described the worsening “brain drain” in the nation’s health sector.

He noted that more than 57,000 Nigerian nurses have left the country in the past five years seeking better opportunities abroad, and that about 16,000 of them had migrated to the United Kingdom alone by December 2025.

“It is on record that Nigerian nurses and midwives are among the best across the world.

“Nigeria-trained nurses and midwives are migrating in droves to other countries in search of better lives,” Mamman said.

He added, “For the past five years, over 57,000 Nigerian nurses have left the country for different parts of the world in search of greener pastures. This should call for greater concern from both the Government and other stakeholders.”

The NANNM president linked the mass migration to a series of “push factors,” namely low salaries, harsh working conditions, insecurity, limited career advancement and scarce job opportunities.

“Many nurses wish to stay and work in Nigeria, but the ‘push factors,’ which include poor remuneration, poor working conditions, kidnapping/insecurity, non-career progression, lack of job opportunities, etc., keep pushing them to leave the country,” he said.

Nigeria has been confronting a severe health‑workforce crisis in recent years, as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals increasingly relocate to the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Saudi Arabia for better welfare packages and safer work environments.

This exodus places additional strain on Nigeria’s overstretched health system, especially in rural and underserved areas where shortages of skilled health workers further limit access to quality care.

Data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the United Kingdom consistently show Nigeria as one of the leading sources of foreign‑trained nurses registering to practice in the UK.

Health experts repeatedly caution that the continual loss of trained professionals could weaken service delivery and increase the burden on the few remaining health workers.

Speaking on the theme of the 2026 International Nurses Day, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” Mamman said the celebration highlighted the urgent need for governments to invest in nurses through improved welfare, safe workplaces and leadership opportunities.

He explained that the theme is a direct call for structural reforms aimed at empowering nurses to provide quality, person‑centred care.

“The theme highlights that for nurses to maximise their life‑saving impact, they must have the authority and resources to deliver high‑quality, person‑centred primary care,” he said.

Mamman also stressed the importance of better mental‑well‑being support, fair working conditions and continuous professional education for nurses nationwide.

The NANNM president urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to act swiftly on the conditions driving health professionals out of Nigeria, warning that inaction could further endanger the nation’s health‑care delivery system.

“The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, therefore, uses this opportunity to call on the government and other critical stakeholders to address all these issues,” he said.

Despite the challenges confronting the profession, Mamman praised Nigerian nurses for their resilience and dedication to patient care.

“Today is not just for celebration. It is a day to reflect on the care, sacrifices, advocacy, hope, and relief you offer to Nigerians.

“Oftentimes, you do a lot, and your work is not appreciated. You are always the first and last person to attend to a patient,” he said.