The Federal government through it’s minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, has said doctors in the country are free to leave for greener pastures as the nation has enough hands.
Speaking during a live interview on Tuesday, Ngige noted that when Nigerian medical doctors go abroad, they send back foreign exchange to the country and thus a good development.
“No, I am not worried (about doctors leaving the country). We have a surplus. If you have a surplus, you export,” he told Channels TV.
“It happened some years ago here. I was taught chemistry and biology by Indian teachers in my secondary school days.
“There are [sic] a surplus in their country and we also have a surplus in the medical profession in our country. I can tell you this. In my area, we have excess.
“Who said we don’t have enough doctors? We have more than enough. You can quote me. There is nothing wrong in them travelling out.
“When they go abroad, they earn money and send them back home here. Yes, we have foreign exchange earnings from them and not just oil.”
When asked again about his comment telling medical doctors to leave Nigeria if they wish, he said the development will not be a “loss” to country.
“Will you call that brain drain? I know a couple of them who practise abroad but set up medical centres back home.
“They have CAT scan, MRI scan which even the government cannot maintain. So, I don’t see any loss.”
