Posted on: Fri 23-05-2025

As he concluded his eight-year tenure as the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Professor Adewale Musa-Olomu offered a candid reflection on the troubling state of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce. In a heartfelt briefing on Thursday, he attributed the persistent migration of Nigerian doctors abroad—popularly referred to as japa—to poor pay and a lack of meaningful incentives.

Musa-Olomu painted a sobering picture of a medical system brimming with talent yet steadily losing its best minds to more prosperous shores. While commending the government’s efforts to reform the sector—such as expanding medical school enrolment and upgrading facilities—he lamented that these initiatives have not curbed the brain drain. For many doctors, the lure of significantly better pay and working conditions in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe remains too strong to resist.

“Nigerian doctors are highly skilled,” he said. “They are more than capable of handling complex medical procedures. Here at FMC, our team successfully performed a delicate surgery that involved removing cancer from nerves and bones—and the patient lived. Yet, despite such capabilities, our professionals are leaving because they are underpaid and undervalued.”

Professor Musa-Olomu underscored the stark contrast in earnings between local and overseas employment. With salaries in Nigeria hovering around N700,000 to N800,000 per month, compared to N10 million or more abroad, the choice becomes a matter of survival for many medical practitioners.

“How can a doctor stay focused on saving lives when they’re constantly worried about their own families—especially when they have children studying overseas and can’t afford tuition?” he asked. “You cannot expect loyalty or long-term commitment without adequate compensation.”

He called for a return to the days when Nigerian doctors were accorded respect and financial recognition, likening their historical status—second only to the Governor-General during colonial times—to what he believes is necessary today to stem the tide of migration.

Despite these challenges, Musa-Olomu proudly highlighted the achievements under his leadership at FMC Abeokuta. He noted the transformation of the hospital into a modern facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by a cadre of highly trained professionals. His administration also laid the groundwork for a new medical university in Abeokuta, a milestone he believes will further strengthen healthcare capacity in the region.

“Investment in infrastructure and training is crucial,” he concluded, “but without incentives and competitive salaries, we will continue to train doctors for other countries.”

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