FG to establish Armed Forces College of Medicine to boost military medical capacity

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) in a strategic bid to strengthen military medical capacity and expand Nigeria’s healthcare training infrastructure.

The initiative was confirmed at a high-level meeting attended by the Ministers of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa and Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmed; the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa; the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle; and other senior stakeholders across the defence, health, and education sectors.

The proposed college, positioned under the NESRI 6-Point Agenda and its emphasis on STEMM education, aims to develop a sustainable pipeline of combat casualty-trained doctors, trauma surgeons, emergency response medics, military public health experts, disaster and humanitarian response professionals, and other allied health specialists for the Armed Forces.

Highlighting the urgency of the project, the Minister of Education noted that, with a population exceeding 240 million, only 189 doctors currently serve in the Defence Forces, while the nation faces an estimated shortfall of roughly 340,000 medical doctors.

He stressed that innovative and scalable training models were essential, citing that annual medical school admissions had already doubled from 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with plans to expand to approximately 19,000 in coming years. AFCOM&HS will serve as a critical pillar of this expansion effort.

In line with the seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, the college will be established within the framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), using accredited federal and military hospitals to deliver clinical training while maintaining strict academic standards. Clinical instruction will occur in designated military medical facilities, structured to accommodate substantial student cohorts without compromising quality or accreditation.

Admission into the college will be conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Graduates will be commissioned as captains in the Armed Forces, combining advanced medical expertise with military discipline, leadership, and operational readiness. Officials emphasised that the model is designed to enhance retention, reduce attrition, and ensure a steady pipeline of commissioned medical officers.

To oversee implementation, a Technical Working Group has been constituted, including representatives from the Federal Ministries of Education and Defence, the Nigerian Defence Academy, MODHIP, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the National Universities Commission, JAMB, the Committee of Provosts of Medical Schools, and the Armed Forces.

The group is tasked with finalising all processes to enable admissions to begin by October or November 2026.

Officials described AFCOM&HS as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s health security, military welfare, and long-term medical workforce development.

Beyond meeting domestic requirements, the college is expected to position Nigeria as a regional hub for military medical training in West Africa.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with defence authorities and regulatory bodies to ensure the project is delivered in full compliance with national and international standards.