14,000+ Nigerian Nurses, Midwives Move to UK in 5 Years

Nigeria has witnessed a massive brain drain in its healthcare sector, with over 14,800 nurses and midwives relocating to the United Kingdom within the last five years.

According to data obtained from the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 14,815 Nigerian-trained nurses were licensed to practice in the UK between April 2019 and March 2024. The NMC registration reports, spanning five consecutive years, show a steady stream of Nigerian health professionals leaving the country in search of better opportunities abroad.

The largest spike in migration occurred between April 2021 and March 2022, when a record 7,256 nurses were registered. However, subsequent years saw a noticeable decline, with 3,383 nurses registering in 2022–2023, and 3,173 joining in the most recent cycle ending March 2024.

Experts attribute this exodus to the harsh realities nurses face in Nigeria. Poor remuneration, unsafe working conditions, and a general lack of job satisfaction continue to push health workers to seek greener pastures.

Michael Nnachi, President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), emphasized that the mass migration is a result of systemic issues. “Nurses are leaving the country due to poor remuneration, lack of job satisfaction, and insecurity,” he said. “We’ve been engaging the government to address these issues, but until they are resolved, the exodus will continue.”

In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) flagged Nigeria as one of 55 countries facing the most critical health workforce challenges. That same year, the UK added Nigeria to its “red list”; a group of countries that should not be actively targeted for health worker recruitment.

Despite that, the numbers show no signs of slowing down, raising concerns about the capacity of Nigeria’s healthcare system to meet growing demands. With thousands of trained professionals leaving annually and very few replacements being hired, patients are increasingly left with limited access to quality care.

As of March 2024, a total of 13,656 UK-based nurses on the NMC register were trained in Nigeria.

No fewer than 14,815 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives have been licensed to practise in the United Kingdom from 2017 to September 2024, The PUNCH reports.https://t.co/Y7XYBDpLBV

— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) April 10, 2025