Lagos, Nigeria – Dr. Adefolaseye Adebomi Adebayo, an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and Head & Neck Surgeon based in Lagos, has issued a passionate call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Health to address Nigeria’s escalating healthcare crisis. Speaking candidly, Dr. Adebayo debunked claims of a surplus of doctors available for export, emphasizing the dire state of the nation’s medical system. “Nigerians, let us reason together,” she urged. “Is Saint Lucia the primary assignment of our leaders, or is it the mandate of Nigerians they are meant to serve?”
In a heartfelt address, Dr. Adebayo highlighted the overwhelming workload faced by medical professionals in Lagos. “As an ENT surgeon, I am stretched thin,” she said. Nigeria has fewer than 500 ENT specialists nationwide, with Lagos, the country’s economic hub, boasting fewer than 30. “Even among these, some have one foot in Nigeria and the other abroad, seeking better opportunities,” she added. This shortage is not unique to her field but reflects a broader national crisis.
Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio stands at an alarming 1:5,000, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended 1:600. “We face a medical insecurity crisis as severe as our physical insecurity,” Dr. Adebayo warned, accusing the government of denying the scale of the problem. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has echoed her concerns, recently issuing a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address poor remuneration, delayed payments, hazardous working conditions, and unimplemented welfare agreements.
The brain drain of medical professionals is accelerating. Between 2017 and early 2025, over 16,000 doctors have left Nigeria for better opportunities in the UK, USA, and Australia. “Young doctors no longer listen to our pleas to stay,” Dr. Adebayo lamented. “Their bags are packed, and they’re headed to the airport.” Even those persuaded to join residency programs often view Nigeria as a temporary stop, saving for foreign exams to facilitate their exit.
Dr. Adebayo sharply criticized President Tinubu’s agreement to export doctors to Saint Lucia, a move the NMA has called “morally unjustifiable.” Nigerian doctors sent abroad earn ₦40.8 million annually, while those at home make just ₦11.9 million. “Exporting our scarce doctors while local hospitals remain understaffed is a betrayal of Nigerians,” she argued. Compounding the irony, government officials, including Tinubu, rely on medical tourism for their own healthcare needs, highlighting a stark double standard.
The Tinubu administration’s failure to adequately fund or reform Nigeria’s crumbling healthcare system has drawn widespread criticism. Rather than tackling the brain drain, the government has incorporated it into its “4D” foreign policy, prioritizing international partnerships over domestic needs. “This self-serving approach will not help Nigerians,” Dr. Adebayo stated.
Yet, she sees hope in reform. “Reviving Nigeria’s healthcare system will cost an arm, a leg, and your heart,” she told President Tinubu, “but it could make Nigeria a medical hub for Africa.” Nigerian doctors are globally renowned, excelling in hospitals worldwide. By investing in training, improving working conditions, and offering incentives to retain talent, Nigeria could transform its healthcare landscape.
Dr. Adebayo’s plea is clear: “Listen to the NMA. Nigeria’s health is bleeding, and exporting doctors is not the cure.” Stakeholders across government, policy, and civil society must act urgently to save the nation’s healthcare system before it collapses entirely.
Dr. Adefolaseye Adebomi Adebayo is an ENT/Head & Neck Surgeon in Lagos, Nigeria.
