Many Nigerian nurses and midwives working abroad are facing serious problems after the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) deactivated its verification portal in February.
This portal is crucial for renewing licences and meeting the rules of international healthcare bodies.
With the portal down, nurses are struggling to renew their licences, causing legal issues and visa problems. Some nurses have even been forced to return to Nigeria because they could not meet the certification requirements.
A nurse who recently moved to the UK in September 2023 shared his story anonymously. He was excited to join the UK Trust, a top healthcare group, but was left disappointed when the NMCN closed the portal.
Despite completing all required exams and checks, he could not get his registration pin. His job was terminated as he could not meet the UK’s certification needs. Now back in Nigeria, he has made several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue with the council.
“This is a matter that has affected even many people who refused to speak up at that time. In the next few weeks, the number of nurses who will return to this country to either commit suicide or start afresh will be many,” he said.
Another nurse in the UK, Ovie, said she moved there in February 2023 to pursue further studies and become a registered nurse. She planned to complete her verification while studying so she could work part-time to support herself, but the NMCN’s portal suspension has halted her registration process, leaving her future uncertain as her student visa nears expiration.
“My student visa will expire soon, and without the ability to work as a nurse, I am at risk of having to return to Nigeria or seek alternative means to remain in the UK,” Ovie expressed.
Beyond Boders also learned that Hannah, a nurse in Saudi Arabia, moved there in 2023, but is facing uncertainty due to the closed portal. She is frustrated and worried about her future as the risk of deportation looms over her.
This situation has thrown the careers and futures of many Nigerian nurses abroad into chaos, as they await the reopening of the NMCN’s verification portal.
