Health
Brain Drain Deepens as 16,156 Nigerian Nurses Secure UK Licences Since 2017
Brain Drain Deepens as 16,156 Nigerian Nurses Secure UK Licences Since 2017
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 latest data from the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The figure, obtained from the NMC register, underscores the deepening brain drain in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, popularly referred to as “japa”, as skilled professionals continue to migrate in search of better pay, working conditions and career opportunities.
In an email response, the NMC, which regulates nurses and midwives in the UK, confirmed:
“As of 30 September 2025, there were 16,156 nurses on the register who were educated in Nigeria.”
The data shows a steady rise in migration. As of March 31, 2025, the number stood at 15,421, representing a 4.8 per cent increase within six months. Nigeria ranked as the third-highest source of foreign-trained nurses in the UK, behind India and the Philippines, according to the NMC’s March 2025 report.
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Although international recruitment into the UK slowed across major source countries, including Nigeria, India and the Philippines, the report noted that the increase in UK-trained nurses has been too slow to offset the decline, resulting in slower overall growth on the NMC register.
The impact of this migration is being strongly felt at home. The 2025 Nigeria Health Statistics report, released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, revealed that 43,221 healthcare professionals—including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists—left Nigeria between 2023 and 2024.
Specifically, the report showed that over 23,000 Nigerian nurses and midwives migrated abroad in 2024 alone. Their preferred destinations were the United States (8,613), United Kingdom (7,463), Canada (5,603), Saudi Arabia (1,231) and Ireland (989).
Highlighting the scale of the crisis, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said Nigeria’s doctor-to-population ratio stands at 1:5,000, far below the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of 1:600, while the nurse-to-population ratio is about 1:2,000, compared to the recommended 1:300.
Salako said the Federal Government is working to address the shortfall through strengthening primary healthcare, expanding the Health Workforce Registry, increasing training quotas, and implementing retention policies aimed at slowing the tide of healthcare migration.
Brain Drain Deepens as 16,156 Nigerian Nurses Secure UK Licences Since 2017
Health
China Unveils Blink-Powered Device to Aid Paralysed Patients’ Mobility
China Unveils Blink-Powered Device to Aid Paralysed Patients’ Mobility
Chinese researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking blink-powered eye-tracking device designed to help paralysed patients regain control over wheelchairs and assistive devices. The innovation captures energy generated by blinking to operate devices, offering new independence for individuals with ALS, spinal injuries, and severe mobility impairments.
The device, named ET‑TENG, uses a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to convert eyelid movements into electrical signals, allowing users to navigate wheelchairs or communicate with technology without external batteries. Unlike traditional camera-based eye-tracking systems, ET‑TENG functions even in total darkness, making it more reliable for daily use.
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Developed through collaboration between Qingdao University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, ET‑TENG demonstrated 99% accuracy in detecting eye movements as small as 2 degrees, ensuring precise control for patients. Experts say this technology could significantly improve quality of life and autonomy for people living with paralysis.
This innovation is part of a growing wave of assistive technologies and brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in China and globally, aimed at translating neuroscience breakthroughs into practical tools for patients with severe disabilities. Researchers hope ET‑TENG and similar devices will soon allow users to communicate, move independently, and interact with the world in ways that were previously impossible.
China Unveils Blink-Powered Device to Aid Paralysed Patients’ Mobility
Health
Father Blames Lagos Health Centre After Twin Infants Die Following Immunisation
Father Blames Lagos Health Centre After Twin Infants Die Following Immunisation
A grieving father has accused a Lagos health centre of negligence following the death of his nine-month-old twin boys, who reportedly died hours after receiving routine vaccination at a government-owned facility in the state.
The father, Samuel Alozie, said he took the twins to the Ajangbadi Primary Health Centre in Ojo Local Government Area for their scheduled immunisation. According to him, the babies were healthy and active before the visit but developed severe reactions shortly after the injections.
He alleged that the twins became unusually weak, stopped feeding properly and failed to respond to treatment given at home based on advice from health workers. Tragically, both children reportedly died within 24 hours of receiving the vaccines.
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The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage on social media, has raised fresh concerns about vaccine safety, medical negligence, and standards of care at public health facilities in Lagos State. In emotional online videos, the father questioned the drugs administered to his children and called for a transparent investigation, insisting that the deaths were preventable.
Reacting to public pressure, the Lagos State Government ordered a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Officials said the autopsy would establish whether the fatalities were linked to the vaccination, medical error, or other underlying health conditions.
Health authorities have urged the public to remain calm while investigations continue, noting that routine childhood immunisation remains safe and critical in preventing deadly diseases. However, rights groups and concerned parents are demanding accountability, insisting that any form of medical malpractice uncovered must be prosecuted.
The tragic deaths have reignited national debate on healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly in primary health centres, with many Nigerians calling for better training, monitoring and equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Father Blames Lagos Health Centre After Twin Infants Die Following Immunisation
Health
NAFDAC Reassures Nigerians as Nestlé Recalls SMA Infant Formula in 50 Countries
NAFDAC Reassures Nigerians as Nestlé Recalls SMA Infant Formula in 50 Countries
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reassured Nigerians that Nestlé infant formula products approved for sale in Nigeria are safe, following public concern over a voluntary global recall of SMA Infant Formula in more than 50 countries.
In a statement issued by the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency clarified that the recall by Nestlé UK was limited to specific batches overseas and does not affect products available in the Nigerian market.
According to NAFDAC, the recall was prompted by the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting, in some UK-manufactured batches. Cereulide is described as a heat-resistant toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
“The Agency wishes to reassure the public, healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders, particularly parents, guardians and caregivers, that all Nestlé infant formulae currently approved for marketing in Nigeria are safe for consumption and are not part of the recall,” the statement said.
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NAFDAC explained that the SMA infant formula sold in Nigeria is manufactured at the Nestlé Tuas Factory in Singapore and is fully registered and approved by the agency. It further confirmed that both the SMA and NAN ranges produced for the Nigerian market are not among the affected batches involved in the voluntary recall abroad.
The agency noted that the public advisory was issued purely as a precautionary public health measure, in line with NAFDAC’s mandate to keep Nigerians informed of global food safety developments, even where the risk of local exposure is low.
However, NAFDAC warned that potential risks could still arise through unauthorised importation, online purchases, or personal carriage of recalled products during international travel.
The agency assured Nigerians that it remains vigilant and committed to ensuring the safety of food and pharmaceutical products in Nigeria, while continuing to monitor global developments related to infant nutrition and food safety.
NAFDAC Reassures Nigerians as Nestlé Recalls SMA Infant Formula in 50 Countries
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