By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Akwa Ibom State government, in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region has declared two medical doctors wanted for allegedly abandoning their posts after completing eight years of state-funded training.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, announced this on Tuesday at a press briefing in Uyo, the state’s capital. He identified the doctors as Dr. Uduakabasi Ita, a consultant radiologist, and Dr. Mfonobong Bassey, a consultant haematologist, both employed by the state Ministry of Health.
According to Dr. John, the doctors left their duty posts in search of greener pastures abroad without fulfilling the mandatory service agreement with the state government, which had sponsored their specialist training.
“The state government has repeatedly said that any medical personnel it trains is bound to first serve the state to cover the cost of the training before they will be allowed to leave for greener pastures,” the commissioner said. “We will stop their salaries, track them until we find them. Any country they go to, we will notify the Medical and Dental Council of that country. It is in their best interest to immediately report to the Ministry of Health”.
He urged their families to reach out and advise them to return to their duty posts, stressing that the government would not be liable for any sanctions imposed by medical councils abroad.
Going forward, Dr. John said medical officers trained with state resources must serve out the agreed number of years before they can resign or leave for opportunities elsewhere. He added that those unwilling to serve would be required to refund the full cost of their training.
“The government cannot continue to watch its best hands leave without first giving back to the people whose resources were used for their training,” he warned.
Dr. John also commended Governor Umo Eno for declaring a state of emergency in the health sector, noting that the state, under the ARISE Agenda, is determined to build one of the best health systems in Nigeria.
Alarming Exodus
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, over 16,000 Nigerian medical doctors have left the country in the last five to seven years, with the Nurses and Midwives Council of Nigeria (NMCN) noting 18,949 departures over the last two decades, including 3,974 in 2024 alone.
This exodus has significantly impacted Nigeria’s doctor-to-population ratio.
