Knocks, disappointment trail Saudi Arabia recruitment of medical professionals in Nigeria

Pascal Oparada

Nigerians are disappointed with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing Saudi Arabia to hold recruitment exercises on Nigeria soil.

According to them, while resident doctors are on strike amid a third wave of COVID-19 in the country, the few doctors who are willing to work are being ferried abroad because of neglect by the government.

Pictures emerged on Wednesday of long lines of medical doctors, health professionals and consultants at a recruitment centre in Abuja by Saudi Arabia.

The Nigerian government has not made any comment about the exercise, which many say, signposts the rot in the medical community in the country. 

A former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan said the recruitment is a dent in Buhari’s government efforts to stymie the brain drain in the medical profession.

Reports say, the recruitment exercise will continue on Thursday.