The United Kingdom says it will support the Nigerian government in preventing brain drain in the country’s health sector.

Catriona Laing, British high commissioner to Nigeria, said the commitment was necessary following a recent spike in visa applications from Nigerians.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had earlier expressed concern with the recent trend of medical doctors leaving the country.

The medical body said there may be a need to hire doctors from foreign countries in the future.

Speaking on Sunday at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Laing said the UK was mindful of the situation and was in talks with the Nigerian government to avoid causing a brain drain, especially in the health sector.

“We have a labour shortage in the UK at the moment. But we have to balance that because we do not also want to be responsible for a massive brain drain from Nigeria because you also need talented people,” Laing said.

“So the health sector is an example where there are a lot of Nigerian medics, both nurses and doctors, in the national health service.”

She, however, expressed her delight that the UK had become an attractive destination for Nigerians, especially students, adding that the UK was ready to welcome talent.

“You know, there are obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family or where they have friends.

“Secondly, the English language makes it a lot easier.

“Thirdly is the education, and people who have studied will want to return. And I think you know, we are a welcoming country, and we want to welcome talents, whether it’s people coming to study or people coming to work.

“So, a lot of Nigerians will be tuned to the UK, and we have seen a very big increase in requests for Nigerian student visas. That is partly because we have changed our policy.

“So it is now easier for Nigerians, students to remain after their studies, they can stay, I think up to two years if you have done a masters or a PhD, which will enable people to look for work after they have studied.”

According to Home Office, Nigerians accounted for the highest increase in the number of dependants accompanying persons with study visas for the year ending in June 2022.

The UK had said migrants from Nigeria may face restrictions following the country’s plans to cut net migration.

https://www.thecable.ng/immigration-uk-in-talks-with-nigeria-to-halt-brain-drain-in-health-sector-says-envoy

Such a huge joke as usual.

We must leave the country for them to own am properly.

Na by force to stay here with una?

Useless bastards.

Only Peter Obi can stop all these mess.
Vote wisely.

Our government didn't understand that Japa is a resultant effect of bad governance.

May it not work.they want us to accept suffering as our lot in life

Nigeria is a country designed to destroy your destiny by most of its population.

After voting people like Tinubu/Atiku they expect hardworking brilliant citizens with bright future to stay and suffer the consequences with them

If you no JAPA when you have the opportunity wetin you gain?

So this criminal fulani wants to trap me in the zoo after wrecking the zoo in record time?
Lie lie.
Next year, even if na Panya , I go use leg trek go dey there small

When the government has refused to do what's right why won't the citizens japa?

Why won’t they leave, when there’s no enabling environment and yet, they are grossly underpaid.

You want to keep me here by force to work under a rubbish health care system you people refuse to invest in? May God punish you people!

Patiently waiting for my visa to be approved jorr

gaby:
Such a huge joke as usual.

We must leave the country for them to own am properly.

Na by force to stay here with una?

Useless bastards.

They know it's late already

Back to the African native health system , rather than apprentice use you take learn and kiiii yu

Tinubu's presidency is the reason youths are running away.

Thank God they said UK.

Engineers like me are needed in Canada

She was even advertising her country to attract more Nigerian workers and students, the British are only after their interests, they can't pull themselves down to satisfy the clueless government of Buhari.

Imagine how this woman is whining Buhari and co, UK needs migrants more than canada sef because of Brexit which made most citizens of the EU to quit their jobs due to change of working conditions.

A truck driver in the UK earns more than a professor in Nigeria university, know this and know peace.

It will not work