Ogun State is battling a severe shortage of doctors, with just one medical doctor available for about 7,500 residents, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned.
The association’s Ogun State Chairman, Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, said only about 1,200 doctors are left to care for the state’s estimated nine million people.
Speaking in Abeokuta on Thursday ahead of the NMA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, Ogunjimi described the situation as alarming, warning that the overstretched doctors are struggling to keep the health system afloat.
He lamented that many doctors have left Nigeria for better opportunities abroad, while those who stayed back to serve are often subjected to attacks instead of receiving support.
“With about nine million people and only 1,200 doctors, the situation is far from ideal. Those who stayed back have chosen to serve their country, so the government and the public must prioritise their welfare,” he said.
The NMA boss said Ogun needs between 5,000 and 10,000 doctors to meet the healthcare needs of its growing population.
“If we have between 5,000 and 10,000 doctors, it will be much better. But the 1,200 doctors we have are doing their best,” he added.
