Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter, has accused the Federal Government of failing to address critical challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector, warning that inadequate funding, worsening brain drain and weak disease preparedness are pushing the system deeper into crisis.
In a Democracy Day statement on Wednesday, NMA Chairman, Dr Saheed Babajide, said the continued migration of doctors and healthcare professionals abroad remains one of the greatest threats to healthcare delivery in the country.
“There is no sign or evidence that the Federal Government is willing or ready to resolve the issue of Japa syndrome where doctors are leaving the country in droves,” Babajide said.
He criticised what he described as government focus on international engagements while neglecting pressing domestic healthcare concerns, including workforce shortages, health financing, medical training and governance.
The association also faulted Nigeria’s failure to meet the Abuja Declaration target of allocating 15 per cent of the national budget to healthcare.
“The government pays more attention to roads, bridges and office buildings than to the health and education sectors,” Babajide stated.
He warned that several infrastructure projects in federal health institutions were being developed without adequate staffing, equipment and operational resources.
According to him, the establishment of additional medical institutions without corresponding investment in manpower and welfare could worsen doctor shortages and create internship bottlenecks for newly qualified medical graduates.
Babajide also raised concerns over Nigeria’s preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks, urging authorities to establish dedicated infectious disease hospitals in every state linked to a national disease control centre.
“This should already be in place before the current Ebola virus concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.
The NMA called for urgent reforms to strengthen healthcare financing, improve working conditions for health professionals, reduce medical tourism and build a resilient healthcare system capable of responding effectively to future public health emergencies.
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwafunbi Bello