The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Kwara States have the best ratio of patients to doctors in northern Nigeria, according to the latest data from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The data showed that the FCT, with a population of around 3.5 million, has 4,453 doctors, equivalent to 1 doctor for every 786 residents, while Kwara has a ratio of 3,299 residents to doctor.
According to the report earlier published by TheCable, Jigawa is the worst in Nigeria with 27,480 patients to 1 doctor; followed by Zamfara with, 20,533 to 1, Kebbi, 18,967 to 1, Bauchi, 17,581 to 1, Katsina, 17,151 to 1, Taraba has 17,022 to 1 while Adamawa has 16,633 to 1.
Others are Niger with 12,971, Yobe: 12,660, Kogi: 10,176, Sokoto: 10,032, Kano: 9,922, Benue: 9,510, Borno: 7,983, Gombe: 7,697, Kaduna: 5,610, Nasarawa: 4,914, Plateau: 3,754, Kwara: 3,299.
According to it, the National average of doctor-to-patient ratio is 3,749 in Nigeria but only Kwara and Plateau in the north come close to the national average.
Despite its smallest population, the FCT boasts an impressive 4,453 medical doctors, making it second only to Lagos State. This number is strikingly higher than the healthcare capacity of over 30 other states, highlighting a significant structural imbalance in Nigeria’s health system.
In contrast, Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Taraba, which together have a population of about 16 million, only have a total of 1,271 doctors.
The report also indicated that the FCT alone has more doctors than the entire Northeast region combined, which has a total of 2,420 doctors.
The imbalance in the doctor-to-patient ratio in the North is not just far above the national average of 3,749 but higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark of 600.
Many of these states, consequently, like Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Bauchi, have witnessed consistent health crises.
For example, in 2021, Nigeria experienced a cholera outbreak affecting over 111,000 people, with more than 60% of cases reported in Northern states.
According to the report, 11 LGAs across five states Bauchi (4), Zamfara (4), Kano (1), Katsina (1) and Borno (1) reported more than 1,000 cases each in 2021.
Poor access to doctors coupled with inadequate sanitation infrastructure is believed to be contributing to the high fatality rates.
Also, malnutrition remains rampant in conflict-affected areas like Katsina, Borno, and Yobe, where healthcare facilities lack trained personnel to address severe acute malnutrition.
States like Taraba, Bauchi, and Plateau frequently report outbreaks of Lassa fever, straining their already overstretched health workforce.
Southern Nigeria Experience
In contrast, Southern states exhibit relatively better ratios, with Lagos leading with 1,762 patients per doctor, well below the national average, whereas other states like Enugu (2,177), Edo (2,570), and Rivers (3,274) also reflect healthier ratios while many others also share relative challenge with the northern states.
This gaps sharply with the WHO’s recommended doctor-patient ratio of 1:600, a benchmark that remains out of reach for all the states in Nigeria, including the Southern states.
As of 2025, Nigeria’s estimated population stands at approximately 234.6 million people, reflecting a 2.37% increase from 2024.
For the health personnel, as of March 2024, Nigeria has approximately 55,000 licensed medical doctors with about 16,000 believed emigrated in the past five years.
Why Is There a Doctor Shortage?
Several factors are driving this critical shortage of doctors. Analysts opined that the mass migration of Nigerian doctors to countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia is foremost among the factors.
Other factors include poor remuneration, insecurity, lack of modern medical equipment, and unfavourable working conditions which push many professionals abroad in search of better opportunities.
Also, media reports cited other factors as underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure over the decades has worsened the situation with many public hospitals in Northern Nigeria remaining underfunded, lacking the basic facilities required to attract and retain medical professionals.
Security challenges compound the problem further. States grappling with insurgency, banditry, and communal violence – such as Borno, Zamfara, and Yobe – see frequent attacks on healthcare facilities. Medical personnel, fearing for their lives, either avoid these regions or flee after experiencing violence.
Some observers also argued that young medical graduates are reluctant to serve in rural or conflict-prone areas where career advancement is limited, and working environments are unsafe.
Moreover, recruitment processes in many states are plagued by bottlenecks, lack of transparency, and nepotism. Even when healthcare policies are drafted to improve access and staffing, weak political will often hinders their effective execution.
Health at Risk
The doctor shortage particularly across Northern states has dire consequences for public health. Maternal and infant mortality rates in these states rank among the highest globally.
In Jigawa and Zamfara for example, many women give birth without access to skilled healthcare workers, contributing to preventable deaths and complications.
Recurring outbreaks of preventable diseases also underscore the healthcare system’s fragility. Cholera, Lassa fever, measles, and meningitis continue to plague these states, with fatalities soaring due to the inability of hospitals to mount quick and effective responses.
Furthermore, health inequality is widening. For instance, while wealthier individuals in the North can afford to seek treatment in private hospitals in Abuja, Lagos, or overseas, the majority of the population – especially in rural areas – is left to rely on ill-equipped primary healthcare centres or turn to traditional healers, exposing themselves to increased health risks.
The doctor shortage affects both patients and also healthcare professionals themselves. Many doctors in these states face burnout due to overwhelming workloads.
What’s Being Done?
Efforts to address the doctor shortage in Northern Nigeria remain sporadic and insufficient. Some state governments, such as Kaduna and Borno, have introduced scholarship programs to encourage young people to pursue careers in medicine.
However, the long-term impact of these initiatives remains to be seen.
Federal policies allowing community health extension workers to provide basic healthcare services – a strategy known as task shifting – have been implemented in many areas.
While this helps fill immediate gaps, critics argue that it compromises the quality of care since these workers often lack specialized training.
Additionally, programs like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) aim to revamp Primary Health Centres by equipping them with essential tools and drugs.
However, the coverage remains low, and the persistent insecurity in some states hinders access to these facilities.
Periodic recruitment drives by state governments have also been attempted, but many fail to offer competitive salaries or address underlying security concerns that drive doctors away.
These imbalances reveal the systemic healthcare failures that leave millions vulnerable to preventable illnesses and deaths.
Worse, with this laxity from the governments in prioritising the health of the citizens, there are possibilities that if the gaps persist, the region will continue to grapple with worsening health outcomes, deepening inequalities, and mounting human suffering.
