Nigeria launches incentives to attract diaspora doctors

The Nigerian Federal Government announced a package of measures aimed at drawing health professionals from the diaspora back to support the country’s health system. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr. Iziaq Salako said the reforms include simplified licensing, visa and customs waivers for medical missions, streamlined locum arrangements and investment incentives for hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical manufacturing. He also introduced the Nigerians in Diaspora Advanced Health Programme (NiDAH) portal and a Diaspora Health Registry as gateways for overseas professionals to contribute.

At the 2026 National Diaspora Merit Award Dinner in Abuja, Salako highlighted that the recent Nigeria Diaspora Health Impact Initiative benefitted nearly 10,000 Nigerians with specialist consultations, surgeries, telemedicine, sickle‑cell screening and other services across all six geopolitical zones. More than 2,000 frontline health workers received training, including over 1,000 on safer birth care in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto. Participating diaspora groups came from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, South Africa, Germany and other countries.

The government hopes the new incentives will expand the role of diaspora doctors, improve service delivery and strengthen the overall capacity of the health sector.