The increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria has emerged as a significant factor driving the mass departure of medical doctors from the country, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Speaking to journalists in Lokoja, Dr. Abubakar Hassan, the Chairman of the NMA in Kogi State, revealed that medical personnel have recently become prime targets for criminal activities, despite their dedicated service to humanity. This situation has severely disrupted healthcare services across Nigeria, including in Kogi State.
Dr. Hassan highlighted numerous unreported cases of doctors who have been abducted and are currently held in captivity by their kidnappers. “In a particular North Central State, at least two doctors are currently in captivity. One has been held for over a year, and the other was abducted just a week ago. This scenario is not isolated; it is the same across the entire country,” he stated.
As a result of these dangers, practicing in other African countries is becoming increasingly attractive for Nigerian doctors, according to Dr. Hassan. He emphasized that while withdrawing services is a last resort to make their demands heard, the lack of security provided by the federal government has made practicing medicine in Nigeria increasingly challenging.
