The Presidency has said worrying about skilled Nigerian workers leaving the country is not on their agenda, with reasons that the country has more capable hands willing to stay.
Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity made this statement during an interview with Channels TV on Sunday evening.
This comes as several sectors including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Health Ministry have warned about the rising rate of Nigerian health workers leaving, which is causing a strain on Nigeria’s healthcare value chain as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria put blame of Naira fall on the number of Nigerians studying in the United Kingdom and United States of America.
Despite Acknowledging the data that shows the trend of migration of skilled workers skyrocketing for the first time in 10 years and the number of Nigeria granted study visas to the UK jumped by 686 percent between 2019 and 2022, Mr Adesina said this is not the first time Nigerians are leaving the country.
He said: “The average Nigerian has always wanted to leave, and it’s not just in Nigeria; in most countries, they always believe the grass is greener out there.
” The truth is that if you have an opportunity to better your life, there is nothing wrong with it. But you can’t now say because people are leaving there is a sign something is fundamentally wrong. There are Nigerians who would never leave,” noting that “for every person that leaves, there are hundreds that want to stay.”
Mr Adesina’s revelation negates Nigeria Society of Anesthetists over the rise of Nigerians moving to work abroad.
In their report: “Government is concerned about the rising tide of brain drain, and suggestions on ways to mitigate the exodus of the health workforce, especially young anesthetists, are welcome.
“We note the fewer number of members of the profession that are currently in the country and I can assure you that the ministry is looking into it.”
