The Federal Government has announced plans to launch 10,000 housing units under the Renewed Hope Medic City mass housing project for the country’s health professionals to end mass emigration.

The announcement was made at a stakeholders’ interactive engagement meeting in collaboration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, and representatives of professional health associations and unions, held in Abuja recently.

According to the initiators of the federally backed initiative, it will be beneficial to medical and healthcare workers across the country.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the initiative, Dr Aliyu Wammako, who was represented by the Deputy President of REDAN, Mercy Iyortyer, emphasised the project’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Agenda.

He said, “Over the years, we have witnessed an alarming exodus of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel seeking better opportunities abroad. This brain drain continues to weaken our healthcare system and deprive the nation of vital expertise needed to build a healthier and more resilient future.”

“The initiative is designed to address the root causes of the brain drain, including poor access to affordable housing, challenging working conditions, and limited professional growth opportunities. This is not just a housing project; it is a national commitment to honouring those who dedicate their lives to the well-being of others.

“Let us imagine a Nigeria where our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers feel recognised, supported, and empowered. By providing affordable homes and creating enabling environments, we are laying the groundwork for a more robust healthcare system. This initiative reflects President Tinubu’s vision of renewed hope, a vision where every citizen, regardless of profession, has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can curb the ‘Japa’ syndrome and pave the way for a brighter, healthier future for Nigeria.”

The initiative is a direct response to the alarming exodus of healthcare professionals, which has left Nigeria’s healthcare system in a critical state. Over the past five years, more than 16,000 doctors, 15,000 nurses, and 5,208 pharmacists have migrated abroad in search of better opportunities.

The President and Chairman of REDAN, Akintoye Adeoye, described the initiative as a landmark effort to provide affordable and dignified housing for healthcare professionals.

“We aim to build systems of delivery that are bankable, transparent, and sustainable. From planning to funding, and from delivery to occupancy, each step must reflect a shared sense of purpose and responsibility,” he said.

On his part, the National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative for Medical and Healthcare Workers, Dr Suleiman Sadiq, said the initiative would be demand-driven to ensure effective planning and allocation.

“We have a responsibility to monitor and evaluate the implementation to ensure that structural standards are upheld. These houses will be allocated to qualified beneficiaries through a smooth and transparent process.

“Additionally, about 15,000 nurses reportedly left Nigeria in 2023 alone. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has also reported that 5,208 pharmacists have left the country in the last five years in search of greener pastures.

“This is five times lower than the mortgage rates of up to 30 per cent per annum charged by some commercial institutions,” he said.