The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised concerns over the migration of at least 9,000 pharmacists from Nigeria to other countries in search of better opportunities.
The association described the development as worrisome and called for improved working conditions and adequate resources to make life more sustainable for healthcare professionals and curb the growing brain drain in the medical sector.
The National Chairman of ACPN, Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, made the call during the association’s 45th Annual National Scientific Conference held in Abuja.
Ezeh in a statement made available to DAILY POST at the end of the conference on Sunday, revealed that no fewer than 9,000 pharmacists has emigrated from Nigeria in the last four years.
The ACPN National Chairman further disclosed that the trend has continued in 2026, revealing that more than 850 pharmacists obtained letters of good standing within the first six months of the year in preparation to relocate to countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and United States.
Ezeh explained that the medical professionals left the country due to poor reward systems, delayed enforcement of drug distribution guidelines and disorganised medicine procurement networks.
He lamented that the continued emigration of professionals is creating a serious manpower shortage, which has grievous implications for patient safety, healthcare delivery and the sustainability of the sector.
Ezeh tasked the governments to strengthen the pharmaceutical industry and support executive or private-member bills targeting some of the sector’s most persistent challenges.
