Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system is expected to come under further strain as Canada prepares to launch a new Express Entry category in early 2026, aimed specifically at helping foreign-trained doctors transition to permanent residency.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria faces an acute shortage of medical personnel.
In some northern states, a single doctor is responsible for more than 43,000 patients, creating overwhelming pressure on hospitals and worsening health outcomes, especially in insecurity-hit regions.
The announcement was made yesterday by Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Diab, and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, Maggie Chi.
According to the statement, the new category will be open to international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation within the last three years.
Canadian authorities say the move is meant to address persistent physician shortages and strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce.
It forms part of a broader effort to stabilise the system even as Canada tightens other immigration pathways for 2026.
Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio remains far below global standards, with the disparity most pronounced in the north.
The Joint Annual Review Health Sector Statistical Book 2025 shows states such as Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Jigawa have just 0.5 doctors per 10,000 people equivalent to one doctor for every 20,000 residents.
The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum of 2.5 doctors per 1,000 people, a threshold no Nigerian state currently meets.
With insecurity driving even more professionals out of northern communities, health experts warn that Canada’s targeted immigration pathway could accelerate the exodus and deepen regional inequalities.