VIDEO: Nigerian Doctors in Canada Have Become ‘Medical Agberos’ — Doctor Alleges

A Canada-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, has stirred intense reactions online after alleging that some Nigerian medical practitioners in Canada have turned into what he describes as “medical agberos,” accusing them of aggressively competing for patients in a manner akin to transport touts at Nigerian motor parks.

The doctor made the claim in a video shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday, where he lamented what he described as unhealthy rivalry among healthcare professionals, particularly within the Nigerian medical community in Edmonton, Alberta.

Drawing a comparison with transport touts commonly found at motor parks in Nigeria, Onwumelu said doctors now “drag” patients from one another in a manner similar to how touts lure passengers into boarding their vehicles. “This Canada where we are, Nigerian doctors have turned to medical agberos,” he said. Explaining his analogy, the doctor referenced the activities of transport touts at major bus terminals, where passengers are persuaded to abandon one vehicle for another with promises of cheaper fares and faster journeys. “Now we have doctors that do that here. They drag patients like there is no tomorrow. It has gotten to the stage that they kill themselves for patients,” he said.

The doctor further expressed concern over what he described as growing competition between older and younger practitioners, questioning why senior doctors would compete with younger colleagues for patients. “I don’t see any reason why a 70-year-old man would be dragging patients with a small boy. I don’t see any reason why a practice owner wouldn’t release a patient for a small boy,” he added. According to him, the situation could have long-term consequences for the medical community if not addressed. “But I have news for you, this city will be scattered in five years,” he warned. Describing the trend as embarrassing for the profession, Onwumelu said the conduct of some practitioners was damaging the image of doctors within the community and could adversely affect the chances of Nigerian doctors who plan to migrate to Canada to practice in the future. “This is disgraceful for our professionals as doctors. We’ve now become medical agberos and we would be the ones to damage this city,” he said.

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His remarks quickly sparked debate on social media, with many users disagreeing with the comparison, while others questioned what exactly he meant by doctors “hustling” for patients. Several commenters argued that building a patient base is a normal part of professional practice and should not be compared to the activities of transport touts. Others, however, expressed concern that unethical competition could damage the reputation of Nigerian professionals abroad. @labalingo wrote: “I trust the system will root them out. Why I like the system abroad is they will give you a very long rope and allow the evidence to build up and then gbosa! You end up in jail.” @ann_omatf countered: “Calling medical professionals ‘agberos’ because they are building patient bases abroad is a stretch. They didn’t come to play.” @rexzeeefied011 questioned: “How’s that so? Are they given target as to how many clients they must treat??” @kelvinEda91 observed: “Anything wey Nigerians touch no worry e no fit be the same again. Especially the desperate ones.” @PlacidChief added: “Nigerians have a value problem and tend to be stupid most times. Greed will be the end of a lot of people.”

The controversy comes amid a growing presence of Nigerian medical professionals in Canada. The Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD) , a not-for-profit association registered in Ontario, Canada in 2001, recognizes and represents the professional and social interests of physicians and dentists of Nigerian descent living in Canada. CANPAD members meet annually across different provinces, and the organization offers scholarships providing financial assistance to students of African descent enrolled in Canadian institutions of higher learning. The association has approximately 2,000 members across the country, reflecting the significant and growing Nigerian medical community in Canada.

Nigerian doctors in Canada have also faced significant challenges, including reports of unconscious bias and systemic discrimination. A Nigerian medical doctor practicing in Calgary recently shared insights on these challenges, arguing that black immigrants start at a significant disadvantage in the Western job market. “As a black person in the West, you already have minus 30 percent. If you’re going for an interview, you already have minus 30 percent just for being black,” the doctor stated, adding that having an African name or a pronounced accent further deducts from one’s initial standing. The doctor described how even after prescribing treatment, a white patient would leave his clinic and go to ask the receptionist if the prescription is okay. “People always question you when you look different. People always question you when you’re black. Is he really a good doctor?” he said. Another professional, Dr. Zoe, likened the experience to a Nigerian proverb: “You as a black guy, you have to work three times harder than the local guys to be where they are.” Before moving to Canada, one doctor struggled to secure interviews despite his qualifications until a supervisor advised him to “remove the Nigerian thing” from his CV. “The moment I did that, I had about seven interviews in one week,” he claimed.

The term “agbero” has gained international recognition. In 2024, the Oxford English Dictionary officially included “agbero” in its lexicon, defining it as “a person who works as a tout at car parks and bus stops, collecting money from passengers and drivers, and ushering passengers onto vehicles.” The word is part of a growing list of Nigerian English terms now recognized by the prestigious dictionary, alongside “japa,” “419,” “eba,” and “suya,” among others.

Onwumelu’s warning raises important questions about professional ethics, cultural integration, and the reputation of Nigerian professionals abroad. As more Nigerian doctors seek opportunities in Canada, the behaviour of a few could potentially impact the perception of the entire community. The incident also highlights the broader tension between building a successful practice in a competitive healthcare system and maintaining the professional decorum expected of medical practitioners in Canada. Whether Onwumelu’s allegations reflect an isolated phenomenon or a growing trend remains to be seen, but his video has undoubtedly opened a necessary conversation within the Nigerian medical diaspora.

"Nigerian doctors in Canada have turned into medical agberos. The same way agberos hustle for passengers in Mazamaza is exactly how some Nigerian doctors in Canada hustle for patients. Soon, they will scatter the country like they have done in several other places."

—… pic.twitter.com/MIiRCEzkd4

— Wave Talent Caster 🌟 (@wavetalentcastr) June 10, 2026

VIDEO: Nigerian Doctors in Canada Have Become ‘Medical Agberos’ — Doctor Alleges

NARD Issues Federal Govt 21-Day Ultimatum Over Unpaid Allowances

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government, warning that industrial harmony in the health sector cannot be guaranteed if longstanding welfare and payment issues affecting doctors remain unresolved. The warning was contained in a communiqué released after the association’s Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and Scientific Conference, which was held in Kano from May 31 to June 5, 2026. The conference was themed “Caring for the Caregivers: Mental Health and Emotional Resilience in Residency Training” and brought together resident doctors, medical experts, government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss challenges facing healthcare workers in Nigeria. The communiqué was signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim. NARD said the federal government had repeatedly failed to fulfil commitments made to doctors despite several engagements and assurances. At the press briefing concluding the OGM, the association declared an industrial dispute with the government over 14 unresolved demands affecting the health sector. “The association hereby declares an industrial dispute with the federal government of Nigeria on the outlined matters above and cannot guarantee industrial harmony after the 21-day window period given to address all the demands,” the communiqué stated.

Among its key demands, NARD called for the immediate release and payment of the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to all eligible resident doctors nationwide within the next 21 days. The MRTF is a statutory intervention fund specifically meant to support the training of resident doctors across accredited health institutions nationwide. Despite repeated assurances from the government, the fund remains unpaid, leaving many resident doctors struggling to finance their training. According to the association, the continued withholding of the MRTF has severely impacted the quality of medical residency training across the country, forcing many doctors to bear the financial burden of their specialization training personally. NARD has consistently maintained that the fund is not a privilege but a statutory entitlement that the government is obligated to disburse annually.

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The association raised concerns over unpaid salaries, promotion arrears and discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in members’ May 2026 salaries across federal and state health institutions. NARD is demanding payment of outstanding arrears arising from the 25/35 percent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) , as well as 19 months of unpaid professional allowance arrears owed to doctors across the country. The doctors further called for the immediate correction of discrepancies in professional allowances reflected in their May 2026 salary cycle and the settlement of all related arrears. Many members, the association noted, have continued to receive incorrect or incomplete salary payments despite multiple complaints and engagements with relevant government agencies. House officers’ welfare was another major issue highlighted. NARD cited persistent salary delays, unpaid arrears, internship placement challenges and onboarding difficulties that continue to affect young doctors just beginning their medical careers. The association noted that excluding house officers from the civil service scheme means they cannot benefit from wage awards or reviews, and called for a clear system ensuring every adjustment on salary or allowance is immediately reflected. NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman has previously stated that “whenever the Federal Government makes adjustments to wage awards, minimum wage, or even during the review of hazard allowance, these adjustments do not automatically translate to house officers,” leaving this vulnerable group of doctors perpetually disadvantaged.

The association further accused Motunrayo Omidiran, Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) , of delaying the issuance of compliance letters to federal health institutions. According to NARD, the delays have worsened manpower shortages and contributed to the growing brain drain in the health sector, as many qualified doctors and other healthcare workers are unable to be recruited into vacant positions. “The OGM demands the immediate issuance of a letter of compliance by the Chairperson of the FCC within the next 21 days to facilitate employment of healthcare workers and avert further worsening of the brain drain crisis,” NARD President Suleiman said during the press briefing. The association warned that the recruitment bottleneck created by the FCC’s delays has forced many young Nigerian doctors to seek employment opportunities abroad, further depleting an already overstretched workforce. With thousands of doctors leaving Nigeria annually for the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and other destinations, NARD argues that addressing recruitment delays is a critical component of reversing the brain drain crisis.

The doctors also expressed grave concern over the rising cases of assault, harassment, intimidation and attacks on doctors while carrying out their duties. NARD President Suleiman described the trend as “barbaric, unacceptable and a dangerous threat” to the survival of the health system. “The OGM observed with grave concern the disturbing rise in cases of assault, harassment, intimidation and violent attacks against doctors across the country while discharging their professional duties,” Suleiman said. As part of its demands, the association urged the federal government and security agencies to develop and implement a National Healthcare Workers’ Assault Prevention and Response Protocol within the 21-day period. It also called for the immediate investigation, arrest, and prosecution of perpetrators of attacks on health workers. The association noted that many attacks on doctors and other healthcare workers go unreported or unpunished, creating a culture of impunity that emboldens violent individuals. NARD warned that if the trend continues unchecked, more healthcare workers will abandon the profession or seek safer working environments outside the country.

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The communiqué highlighted unresolved welfare issues in several major institutions, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife. NARD accused the management of OAUTHC of persistent intimidation of resident doctors, while alleging that LUTH had continued to withhold the provision of call meals for doctors despite repeated demands. The association also demanded full implementation of outstanding provisions in the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and urged government action on excessive workload, prolonged call-duty hours, casualisation of doctors, and abusive locum appointments. Other welfare concerns were listed in various centres, including the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) hospitals and Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna, where doctors reportedly face severe staffing shortages and poor working conditions.

The association reiterated its demand for the full implementation of outstanding provisions in the Medical and Health Workers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) . The CBA, which was signed between the federal government and health sector unions, contains several provisions aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers. However, NARD noted that many of these provisions remain unimplemented years after they were agreed upon. Specific issues highlighted include excessive workload caused by severe manpower shortages, prolonged call-duty hours that violate safe working hour guidelines, the casualisation of doctors through irregular appointment practices, and abusive locum appointments that exploit young doctors. The association warned that these conditions are not only unfair to doctors but also dangerous for patients, as overworked and stressed physicians are more likely to make medical errors.

The association commended the governors of Kano and Osun states, Abba Kabir Yusuf and Ademola Adeleke, for their efforts to improve doctors’ welfare and strengthen healthcare delivery in their states. According to NARD, both governors have demonstrated commitment to addressing the concerns of resident doctors in their respective states, contrasting their actions with what it perceives as the federal government’s sluggish response to the crisis. NARD specifically praised the Kano State government for hosting the association’s OGM and Scientific Conference and for its ongoing investments in healthcare infrastructure and workforce welfare. The association called on other state governors to emulate the examples set by Kano and Osun.

NARD has stated that its National Officers Committee will engage relevant stakeholders within the 21-day window period. After this period, the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) will review progress and take further decisions, which could include a nationwide industrial action. The doctors’ body said it expects concrete action from the government before the deadline expires, warning that failure to address the issues could trigger industrial unrest across the country’s health sector. A nationwide strike by resident doctors would effectively shut down tertiary healthcare services in federal and many state hospitals, as resident doctors constitute the backbone of clinical services in these institutions. The latest ultimatum adds to a long history of disputes between the country’s resident doctors and the federal government over remuneration, welfare, and training funding. Over the years, NARD has repeatedly threatened or embarked on industrial actions over unpaid allowances, salary arrears, and delays in the release of the MRTF. Many of the issues highlighted in the latest communiqué have remained recurring points of contention between the association and the government.

NARD Issues Federal Govt 21-Day Ultimatum Over Unpaid Allowances

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