FG Reveals The Truth About 58 Nigerian Doctors Stopped From Travelling To UK

The federal government of Nigeria has finally revealed more details on why the fifty-eight medical doctors who planned on leaving the country were denied access from travelling out of the country.

Nigeria’s Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, who gave the revelation during the presidential task force (PTF)  COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, said although he cannot ascertain their whereabout now, the federal government is working on ensuring better welfare for them.

Ehanire also said that the news came as a surprise that some doctors wanted to leave Nigeria without visas.

He also said that Nigerian doctors seeking to move to countries like the UK, to reconsider such plans as they would lose out on getting hazard allowance which is not available in the scheme of benefits of working in foreign countries. He, however, stated that Nigeria would not stop doctors, who want to leave the country from emigrating but they must have visas.

Meanwhile,  In a related development, the British government has announced a new ‘Health and Care Visa’ policy to attract more Nigerian doctors to the United Kingdom. The new visa policy aims to make it cheaper, quicker and easier for Nigerian doctors to go to UK, beginning in August.

The UK Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care had on Tuesday announced that the new Health and Care Visa would be launched this summer, creating a new fast-track visa route for eligible health and care professionals and delivering on a key manifesto commitment.