Korede Abdullah 
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – Ogun doctor shortage has reached a critical level, with only 1,200 doctors serving an estimated nine million residents, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State chapter, has warned, raising fresh concerns over healthcare access, workforce depletion and the rising wave of attacks on medical professionals.
The association said the current ratio translates to roughly one doctor for every 7,500 people, far below what is needed to provide effective healthcare services across the state.
Speaking at a conference in Abeokuta on Thursday to announce activities marking the 2026 NMA Week and Annual General Meeting, Ogun State NMA Chairman Dr Luqman Ogunjinmi described the shortage as unsustainable, attributing it largely to the continued migration of doctors seeking better remuneration and working conditions abroad.
“If you have an estimated population of about nine million in Ogun State and we have only 1,200 doctors working in the state, you know this is a far cry. However, the 1,200 doctors remaining have decided to stay back to give back to their country,” Ogunjinmi said.
“If we have between 5,000 and 10,000 doctors in Ogun State, it will not be too bad. We need nothing less than 5,000 doctors. But those 1,200 doctors who are still here are trying their best,” he added.
“When a doctor is delivering services, there is an organised body meant to investigate allegations of professional negligence. It is the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. We do not want security agencies prosecuting clinical matters without following due process,” he said.
“Doctors cannot be working and suddenly security agents storm the hospital to arrest them because a patient died. Diagnosis and treatment are continuous processes. You must investigate properly before concluding that a doctor is culpable,” Ogunjinmi said.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Mirian Gom 