LAGOS, NIGERIA — A growing number of elderly Nigerians are dying under troubling circumstances as families increasingly rely on unregulated caregivers amid shifting social and economic realities across the country.
The trend is linked to the rising migration of younger Nigerians to urban centres and abroad, leaving many ageing parents without direct family support or structured care systems.
Experts warn that the absence of formal eldercare services has created a vacuum now filled by informal and often unverified caregivers, raising concerns about safety, quality of care, and accountability.
Families, faced with limited options, are turning to individuals without professional training or regulatory oversight to provide daily support for elderly relatives, including feeding, medication management, and mobility assistance.
This reliance on unregulated care has exposed vulnerable seniors to risks such as neglect, poor health monitoring, and delayed medical attention, which in some cases have contributed to preventable deaths.
Healthcare professionals note that ageing individuals often require specialised attention due to chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and mobility challenges, which demand consistent and skilled care.
Without proper supervision, these conditions can deteriorate rapidly, leading to complications that may go unnoticed until it is too late.
The situation reflects broader structural gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare and social welfare systems, where formal eldercare institutions remain limited and largely inaccessible to the average citizen.
Cultural expectations traditionally placed responsibility for elderly care on family members, but economic pressures and migration patterns are increasingly disrupting this model.
As a result, many elderly individuals are left isolated, with limited emotional support and inconsistent access to healthcare services.
Stakeholders are calling for urgent government intervention to establish regulatory frameworks for caregiving services, ensuring that individuals providing such care meet minimum standards of training and accountability.
They also advocate for the development of community-based support systems, including day-care centres for the elderly, home healthcare programmes, and social welfare initiatives.
In addition, experts stress the need for public awareness campaigns to educate families on the importance of proper caregiving and the risks associated with unverified service providers.
The issue has also drawn attention to the lack of comprehensive data on elderly welfare in Nigeria, making it difficult to track trends and implement targeted policies.
Civil society organisations have urged authorities to prioritise ageing populations in national planning, especially as life expectancy gradually increases and family structures continue to evolve.
Some families have begun exploring alternative solutions, including cooperative caregiving arrangements and private home healthcare services, though affordability remains a major challenge.
Observers note that without immediate action, the situation could worsen, with more elderly individuals facing neglect and health complications in the absence of structured support systems.
As migration continues and traditional family care models weaken, the need for a regulated and sustainable eldercare framework is becoming increasingly urgent across Nigeria.
