President Bola Tinubu don promise say Federal Government go intensify efforts to stop Nigerian medical professionals from dey leave the country and encourage those wey don travel abroad to return home to serve their people. But as government dey call for Japa to reduce, one big question remain: wetin go make doctors wey don find better opportunities abroad decide say Nigeria na still the best place to practise their profession? The promise come at a time wey Nigeria dey work to strengthen healthcare delivery and prepare against infectious diseases, including the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
Japa Wahala: Tinubu Don Talk, But Doctors Need Action
President Tinubu make the statement on Monday, October 26, 2026, through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, during the opening and induction ceremony of the 50th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the West African College of Physicians for Abuja. The event mark the college’s golden jubilee, as e celebrate 50 years of medical education, specialist training and professional development. Tinubu talk say government go work hard to stem the movement of medical professionals abroad and encourage those wey don travel to return and serve Nigeria and the wider West African region.
The President also highlight the importance of specialist medical training, research, innovation and stronger cooperation between health institutions. But the Japa matter no be something wey presidential promise alone fit settle overnight. Medical professionals dey make career decisions based on plenty factors, including salary, working conditions, access to equipment, professional development and opportunities for their families. If government truly want reverse the trend, the practical question na whether doctors go see enough reasons to stay or return. After all, person fit love him country and still want make him work no turn to daily survival competition.
Japa and Ebola: Why Nigeria Need Strong Health Workers
The matter get another serious side because Nigeria don confirm one imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola disease, for Federal Capital Territory on October 20, 2026. The patient reportedly travel from Uganda, and health authorities identify contacts wey dem need to monitor. Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention activate its emergency response arrangements, while health officials dey strengthen contact tracing, infection prevention and other measures to reduce the risk of further spread. The situation don also highlight why cooperation between African countries and strong disease surveillance systems remain important.
The connection between Japa and disease control clear: when health workers plenty, properly trained and adequately supported, the country get better capacity to detect diseases, care for patients and respond to emergencies. Poor remuneration, difficult working conditions, uneven distribution of health workers and limited career opportunities fit encourage medical professionals to seek better opportunities abroad. However, no be every health worker wey express interest in travelling don actually leave the country, so government need reliable data to understand the real size of the problem.
For this reason, government efforts need to go beyond inviting professionals home. Better staff welfare, reliable payment of salaries and allowances, functioning hospital equipment, safe working environments, transparent career progression and opportunities for specialist training fit help make returning more attractive. Nigeria also need policies wey go distribute health workers fairly between cities and underserved communities. Nobody suppose expect one doctor to replace an entire department simply because the hospital get one person wey wear white coat. Government and professional institutions need to work together to turn these commitments into measurable improvements.
The final test of Tinubu promise no be how many times government mention Japa, but how many medical professionals eventually decide to remain in Nigeria or return because the conditions don improve. With disease preparedness and everyday healthcare needs demanding skilled personnel, Nigeria cannot afford to treat the migration of medical workers as ordinary travel matter. Government don announce the intention; now Nigerians go dey watch for evidence of action, better working conditions and a health system wey professionals fit trust. OGM News Pidgin go continue to bring una future updates on the story.
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