The deactivation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s (NMCN) verification portal in February has thrown the lives of Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad into disarray.
The sudden closure has halted the verification process, leaving many healthcare workers stranded and unable to renew their licenses or meet international regulatory requirements.
For many, the situation is nothing short of devastating. “The situation is not only saddening but also suicidal,” said a nurse who was forced to return to Nigeria after being unable to verify his certificate. “My career is stagnated because the portal is closed. I’m in Nigeria now… My efforts to resolve the issue have been futile.”
Another nurse, Ovie, who is based in the UK, expressed her concerns about the uncertainty surrounding her future.
“I am a registered nurse from Nigeria, and I moved to the UK in February this year to pursue a nursing top-up programme to become a UK-registered nurse… Unfortunately, just before I arrived, the NMCN suspended the verification for nurses, which has prevented me from pursuing my registration.”
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has been engaging with the government to resolve the issue.
President Michael Nnachi said, “We have engaged the government on several demands, including the reopening of the portal… We are deeply concerned about the difficulties they are facing, and we are not comfortable with the situation.”
The NMCN registrar, Faruk Abubakar, has assured that the portal will be opened soon, but no specific date has been given. “Reopening the verification portal requires due process… We are working towards resolving all the issues, and the portal will be reopened,” he said.
As the wait continues, many nurses are left feeling frustrated, desperate, and uncertain about their future.
The situation has sparked concerns about the government’s commitment to supporting Nigerians in the diaspora who are representing the country positively.
