Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has urged Nigerian medical doctors, especially those from the northern region, to look beyond financial gains and embrace patriotism as the country struggles with an increasing exodus of healthcare professionals.
Speaking during an interview on Spotlight On with S24, the governor expressed deep concern over what he described as the quiet but alarming departure of northern doctors, including female doctors, to foreign countries. Radda emphasized that while they go abroad to save lives, their own communities at home continue to suffer severe shortages.
He revealed that upon assuming office, there was a significant manpower gap in Katsina’s health sector. An approval was granted for the employment of 40 doctors, but only 11 accepted the offer. According to him, the state had no choice but to intensify efforts to build and expand medical facilities and create new openings for qualified doctors willing to serve. Radda argued that the reason Nigerian doctors earn so much abroad is not necessarily superior skill, but because, as he put it, “their citizens are lazy, and Nigeria is producing the doctors they need.”
His comments come at a tense moment in the country’s healthcare sector, as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is currently on a nationwide strike. The industrial action, which began on November 1, 2025, has now lasted 15 days, leaving many public hospitals operating at minimal capacity. Doctors are demanding better working conditions, payment of accumulated allowances, improved welfare, and stronger government commitment to health-sector reforms.
On social media particularly Twitter (X), Radda’s remarks drew reactions. Netizens criticized the governor’s stance, arguing that patriotism cannot substitute for fair compensation, modern equipment, safety, and dignity at work. Many pointed out that doctors flee not because of greed, but due to years of poor remuneration, stalled promotions, chronic underfunding, and insecurity in many northern states. Several commenters insisted that before appealing to patriotism, governments must first fulfill their responsibilities, resolve the ongoing strike, and create an environment where skilled professionals can thrive.
A broader sentiment across online discussions is that meaningful reform rather than moral appeals is what will determine whether Nigeria’s doctors stay or continue to migrate. For many, Governor Radda’s message reflects a genuine concern, but lasting change will require concrete investment, structural improvements, and policies capable of retaining talent in the country’s struggling health system.
