Nigerian Govt moves to establish Armed Forces Medical College
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) in an effort to enhance military healthcare services.
The statement, released on Saturday by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, outlines that the new institution will also address personnel shortages within the Armed Forces and broaden Nigeria’s medical training capabilities.
According to Boriowo, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, shared details during a high-level meeting with the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, along with other key stakeholders. The meeting included participation from the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, and the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle.
Alausa emphasized that the proposed college aligns with the government’s reform agenda, particularly the objective of bolstering education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences. He stated that the college aims to create a sustainable pipeline of military-trained medical professionals, including doctors, surgeons, trauma specialists, and emergency response medics.
Highlighting the critical shortage of medical personnel in Nigeria, which has a population exceeding 240 million, Alausa noted a deficit of approximately 340,000 doctors. He emphasized the urgent need for scalable and innovative training solutions. To that end, he indicated that annual medical school admissions had already been increased from around 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with future projections aiming for an increase to about 19,000.
The new college is intended to play a vital role in this expansion strategy. In adherence to the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on establishing new tertiary institutions, the college will be developed under the framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy and will be located in Lagos State. It will be connected to accredited federal and military hospitals to facilitate clinical training.
Training for medical cadets will cover eight years, consisting of six years of academic study, one year of military training, and one year of housemanship. Graduates will be equipped with medical skills, discipline, leadership qualities, and readiness for military service.
To ensure regulatory compliance and quality assurance, a Technical Working Group has been formed. This group includes representatives from the Ministries of Education and Defence, the Nigerian Defence Academy, and relevant professional regulatory bodies. The goal is to commence admissions by October or November 2026.
Alausa expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support for human capital development and national security. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with its defense and regulatory partners to implement the initiative in accordance with national standards and global best practices.
