The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared two medical doctors wanted for leaving their jobs at the state Ministry of Health.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, announced this on Monday, September 15, 2025, during a press briefing in Uyo. He explained that the doctors abandoned their duty posts to seek better opportunities abroad, even though the government sponsored their training for eight years.

The doctors were identified as Dr. Uduakabasi Ita, a consultant radiologist, and Dr. Mfonobong George Bassey, a consultant haematologist. The commissioner also revealed that despite abandoning their work, the two doctors are still receiving salaries from the state government.

Dr. John stated that the doctors have two options – either return to their duty posts or refund all the money the government invested in their training.

“We will track them until we find them. Wherever they go, even outside Nigeria, we will report them to the medical and dental council of that country and stop them from practising,” the commissioner warned.

He further appealed to the doctors’ families to advise them to report immediately to the Ministry of Health. He added that from now on, every doctor trained by the state must complete the agreed service years before being allowed to resign.

Nigeria is currently battling a severe shortage of doctors and other health workers, as many of them leave the country in search of better pay and improved living conditions abroad.