- Federal Government plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) to boost military and national healthcare capacity
- The college will train combat casualty doctors, trauma surgeons, emergency medics, and public health experts for the Armed Forces
- AFCOM&HS is expected to position Nigeria as a regional hub for military medical training in West Africa
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS), a bold initiative aimed at boosting military medical readiness while expanding Nigeria’s healthcare training capacity.
The plan was finalised at a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmed, with the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, alongside other senior stakeholders from the defence, health, and education sectors.
As part of the NESRI 6-Point Agenda, particularly its focus on strengthening STEMM education, the proposed college is designed to create 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.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Alausa highlighted the stark deficit in Nigeria’s medical workforce.
“With a population exceeding 240 million, only 189 medical doctors currently serve within the Defence Forces. Nationally, the country faces an estimated shortfall of about 340,000 doctors,” he said.
He added that the scale of the challenge requires innovative and scalable training models. As part of broader reforms, the Federal Ministry of Education has doubled annual medical school admissions from about 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with plans to increase intake to roughly 19,000 annually in the coming years.
“The Armed Forces College will serve as a critical pillar of this expansion drive,” he said.
In line with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, the college will be established within the existing framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). It will leverage accredited federal and military hospitals to ensure robust clinical training while maintaining high academic standards.
Clinical instruction will take place in designated military medical facilities structured to accommodate large student cohorts without compromising accreditation or quality. Admission into the college will be conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Upon graduation, medical cadets will be commissioned as captains in the Armed Forces, combining world-class medical expertise with military discipline, leadership skills, and operational readiness.
Officials stressed that the model is designed to enhance retention, reduce attrition, and ensure a steady pipeline of commissioned medical officers for Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
Representing the Minister of Defence, senior officials emphasised the importance of institutional alignment, strict adherence to governance frameworks, and the adoption of global best practices to ensure sustainability and uniform standards.
To accelerate implementation and maintain regulatory compliance, a Technical Working Group has been set up, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Defence Academy, MODHIP, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, National Universities Commission, JAMB, the Committee of Provosts of Medical Schools, and the Armed Forces.
The group is responsible for finalising all necessary processes to enable admissions to begin by October or November 2026.
Officials described the establishment of AFCOM&HS as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s health security, defence personnel welfare, and long-term medical workforce development.
Beyond addressing domestic needs, the institution 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 deliver the project in strict compliance with national standards and international best practices.