Nigerian medical brain drain worsens as ‘Japa Syndrome’ threatens healthcare system

Professor Edward Komolafe warns that Nigeria’s healthcare system could soon collapse due to the growing “Japa Syndrome” and worsening brain drain.

 

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]rofessor Edward Komolafe, a professor of surgery at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), has raised alarm over the worsening “Japa Syndrome,” cautioning that Nigerians may soon struggle to find medical practitioners at hospitals if the Federal Government fails to address the issue.

 

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He voiced these concerns during the Nigerian Academy of Neurological Surgeons Conference at the University of Ibadan’s International Conference Centre on Tuesday.

The conference, themed “Nigeria and Contemporary Neurosurgical Practice,” paid tribute to renowned neurosurgeons Professors Temitayo Shokunbi and Adefolarin Malomo, who both retired from the University of Ibadan and University College Hospital at the age of 70.

However, the event also became a platform for discussing the profound challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Professor Komolafe highlighted that a significant number of medical professionals, including neurosurgeons, are leaving Nigeria in search of better opportunities abroad, a phenomenon colloquially referred to as “Japa Syndrome.”

In his hospital in Ife, Komolafe lamented that they had lost two of their three new neurologists in just two months, with only one remaining.

“In the last 10 years, I have trained 12 neurosurgeons. Half of them are outside the country as we speak,” he said, adding that even those still in Nigeria are seeking better-paying opportunities, with many unwilling to continue working under the government’s poor pay structure.

He further linked this exodus to the systemic failure in the country, where social, economic, and healthcare conditions are declining.

“A lot of people are suffering from depression and committing suicide because they can hardly live with the current situation.

When you now extend this to the health system, patients can hardly afford hospital fees, let alone drugs,” Komolafe explained.

He also pointed out that many hospitals in Nigeria are in a dilapidated state, comparing them to “abattoirs” where patients are left to die due to a lack of proper equipment, medications, and resources.

He emphasised that without immediate intervention, Nigeria’s health sector would continue to suffer, with devastating consequences for patient care.

Komolafe called for an increase in the health budget, criticising the Federal Government for allocating just 4.47% to healthcare in 2024, far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended 15% for a population exceeding 200 million.

He stressed that corruption in the health sector must also be addressed, with the government being held accountable for every expenditure.

The conference also celebrated the contributions of Professors Shokunbi and Malomo, with event chairman Babatunde Salako praising their achievements in advancing neurosurgical techniques and transforming countless lives throughout their careers.

The two retired neurosurgeons were lauded for their first-class skill and compassion, serving as mentors to many students and professionals in the field.