The Federal Government has announced progress toward establishing the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) as part of efforts to enhance healthcare delivery within the military.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to Boriowo, the proposed institution is expected to help tackle manpower shortages in the Armed Forces while also boosting Nigeria’s overall capacity for medical education and training.
She cited the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who revealed the development during a high-level meeting with the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, and other key stakeholders.
Also present at the meeting were the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the proposed college is in line with the Federal Government’s reform agenda, particularly its drive to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences education.
The institution is expected to create a steady and sustainable pipeline of military-trained doctors, surgeons, trauma experts, emergency responders and other allied health professionals.
Nigeria, with a population exceeding 240 million, is currently grappling with a significant shortage of medical personnel, including an estimated deficit of about 340,000 doctors. To address this gap, the ministry has increased annual medical school admissions from roughly 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with projections to raise the number to about 19,000 in the coming years. The proposed college is designed to play a key role in this expansion strategy.
In line with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new tertiary institutions, the Nigerian Defence Academy will host the college within its existing structure. The institution will be based in Lagos State and will partner with accredited federal and military hospitals for clinical training.
Training activities will take place at designated military medical facilities, including the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital and the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Lagos. Medical cadets will undertake an eight-year programme comprising six years of academic study, one year of military training and one year of housemanship. Graduates are expected to emerge with medical competence, leadership skills and operational readiness for military service.
A Technical Working Group, made up of representatives from the Ministries of Education and Defence, the Nigerian Defence Academy, and relevant regulatory bodies, has been set up to ensure compliance and quality assurance. The target is to commence admissions by October or November 2026.
The minister also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu for human capital development and national security, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to implementing the initiative in line with national standards and global best practices.