In recent months, Nigerian nurses working abroad, particularly in the UK and US, have faced serious challenges after the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) deactivated its verification portal in February 2024. This portal is essential for nurses to renew their licenses and meet international standards. Without it, many Nigerian nurses are finding themselves in violation of visa and employment rules, with some even being forced to return home.
One Nigerian nurse, who had moved to the UK in 2023 to work with a prestigious healthcare organization, shared his disappointment after losing his job because he couldn’t complete his registration. Despite passing the required exams and submitting documents, the closed verification portal left him unable to obtain his nursing pin. After trying to get help from the NMCN, he returned to Nigeria, feeling his career had hit a dead end.
“I’ve gone to the nursing council multiple times, even asking if they could send a letter of good standing to the UK authorities, but nothing worked. I’m now back in Nigeria, uncertain of what to do,” he explained. His situation reflects a growing problem that has affected many Nigerian nurses abroad, some of whom face severe mental stress due to their careers being stalled.
Ovie, a nurse who moved to the UK in February 2024 to pursue a nursing top-up program, planned to complete her verification and work part-time to support herself. However, the suspension of the portal left her unable to register as a nurse. She now risks deportation as her student visa expires soon, with no way to secure a job without her nursing registration.
Another nurse shared a similar experience, explaining that she passed her English test earlier in the year but couldn’t move forward with the required Computer-Based Test (CBT) because the verification portal was shut down.
A Nigerian nurse in Saudi Arabia also described the uncertainty she faces in her career. After moving to the country in 2023 to practice nursing, she’s now stuck in limbo due to the same verification issues, which could affect her job stability.
These ongoing problems have led to growing frustration among Nigerian nurses working abroad. The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has been engaging the government to resolve the issue. Michael Nnachi, the association’s president, said that while discussions are underway, there’s no clear timeline for reopening the portal. He urged affected nurses to remain patient and hopeful, though he acknowledged the difficulties they face.
His deputy, Abubakar Shehu, also expressed concern, noting that the delay has caused serious harm to Nigerian nurses’ careers abroad. While the NANNM continues to push for a resolution, nurses around the world are left waiting, unsure of what will happen next.
For many of these healthcare professionals, their future depends on the reopening of the portal. Without it, they face job losses, visa complications, and personal hardships, with some considering returning to Nigeria to start their careers all over again. Until the portal is reopened, the fate of many Nigerian nurses working overseas remains uncertain.
