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 findings by The PUNCH.

The figure is based on the latest data from the United Kingdom’s Nursing and Midwifery Council register, which was obtained exclusively by our correspondent on Wednesday.

The data highlight a growing trend in the migration of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce, commonly referred to as japa, as trained professionals leave the country for destinations offering better remuneration, improved working conditions and clearer career progression.

The continued exit of healthcare workers poses a serious challenge to Nigeria’s health system, particularly in underserved and rural communities, and underscores the urgent need for policies aimed at retaining skilled personnel and strengthening domestic healthcare capacity.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the statutory regulatory body in the United Kingdom responsible for registering qualified nurses, midwives and nursing associates, as well as investigating professional conduct and practice-related concerns.

In an email correspondence with our correspondent, the NMC said, “As on 30 September 2025, there were 16,156 nurses on the register who were educated in Nigeria.”

Data from the same source showed that as of March 31, 2025, the number of Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives on the UK register stood at 15,421.

This represented an increase of 4.8 per cent within a six-month period.

A report released by the NMC in March also indicated that Nigeria ranked as the third-highest source of foreign-trained nurses practising in the United Kingdom, behind only the Philippines and India.

The report further noted that a decline in international recruitment was recorded across several countries, including the top three source nations of India, the Philippines and Nigeria.

It added that although the number of UK-educated professionals joining the NMC register has continued to rise, the pace of growth has been insufficient to offset the slowdown in international recruitment.

As a result, overall growth in the NMC register slowed over the past year.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Nigeria Health Statistics report, released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in November, revealed that a total of 43,221 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists left Nigeria between 2023 and 2024.

The report also disclosed that more than 23,000 Nigerian nurses and midwives migrated abroad as of 2024 in search of better job opportunities and improved working conditions.

According to the report, the United States emerged as the most preferred destination for Nigerian nurses and midwives, with 8,613 migrants.

The United Kingdom followed with 7,463 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives, while Canada received 5,603.

Other notable destinations included Saudi Arabia with 1,231 migrants and Ireland with 989.

Speaking on the implications of the trend, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, highlighted the severity of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce shortages.

According to him, “Our Doctor-to-Population Ratio is 1:5,000 (against the WHO recommendation of 1:600), while Nurse-to-Population Ratio is as low as 1:2,000 (against the WHO recommendation of 1:300).”

Salako, however, said the Federal Government remained committed to addressing the gaps in the health workforce.

He stated that efforts were ongoing to strengthen primary healthcare systems, expand the Health Workforce Registry, increase training quotas for health professionals and implement retention policies aimed at reducing migration and stabilising the sector.