A quiet shift is underway in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape as more Nigerians living abroad return home for medical treatment, reversing a long-held belief that quality care can only be found overseas.
While many patients within Nigeria still seek opportunities to travel abroad for specialised care, investigations by Economy & Lifestyle reveal that a growing number of Nigerians in the diaspora are choosing local hospitals for major surgeries, diagnostic tests and fertility treatments.
From routine medical check-ups to complex procedures such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI), diaspora Nigerians are increasingly citing affordability, access and responsiveness as reasons for seeking care back home.
For many, the decision is driven by the soaring cost of healthcare in Europe and North America, where consultation fees and procedures can run into thousands of dollars. Others complain of limited access to thorough medical evaluations, often receiving painkillers and rest advice despite persistent or severe symptoms.
Mr Freedom Adams, a Nigerian living abroad, shared his experience after falling ill and being rushed to a hospital by emergency services.
“I was kept for about five hours and only given pain relief, without any clear diagnosis of what caused my stomach ache,” he said.
According to Adams, it was during a subsequent visit to Nigeria that he received a detailed medical assessment.
“That was where I was told to run tests, which revealed that I had piles and an ulcer. I was properly treated,” he explained.
Since then, Adams says he makes it a point to undergo medical check-ups in Nigeria whenever he visits.
“In some countries abroad, you rarely get the privilege of a full medical evaluation unless you pay heavily. What costs a fraction in Nigeria could be three times more outside the country,” he added.
Medical professionals in Nigeria say they are witnessing the trend first-hand.
A gynaecologist, Mr Adewale Makinde, confirmed an increase in the number of Nigerian women travelling from abroad for fertility treatment.
“There has been a noticeable influx of women coming into Nigeria for IVF and related procedures,” he said. “The cost of consultation alone abroad is overwhelming, not to mention the procedure itself.”
Experts say the trend highlights both the challenges of healthcare access in developed countries and the gradual improvement of specialised medical services in Nigeria, particularly in private hospitals.
As global healthcare costs rise, analysts believe Nigeria could increasingly position itself as a medical destination for its diaspora, provided standards, regulation and infrastructure continue to improve.
