FG to Launch Military Medical College to Tackle Doctors Shortage

The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) to help close Nigeria’s estimated shortfall of 340,000 doctors. The initiative comes amid concerns over the nation’s rapidly growing population, now exceeding 240 million, and the limited number of medical professionals in the Armed Forces, currently just 189.

The plan was confirmed following a high-level meeting attended by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Suiwaba Ahmed, and the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, alongside key stakeholders from the education, defence, and health sectors.

According to the Ministry of Education, the college will serve as a strategic intervention to strengthen military healthcare services, expand Nigeria’s medical training capacity, and position the country as a regional hub for military medical education in West Africa.

Expanding medical training capacity

The Federal Government has already increased annual medical school admissions from around 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with plans to scale up to 19,000 in the coming years. The new college is set to complement this expansion, focusing on producing combat casualty-trained doctors, trauma surgeons, emergency medics, disaster response specialists, and other allied health professionals.

This effort aligns with broader education reform initiatives emphasizing science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and medical sciences. The goal is to ensure a sustainable pipeline of healthcare professionals equipped to meet both military and civilian needs.

Structure and admissions

AFCOM&HS will operate within the existing framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy, adhering to the government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions, and complying with directives from President Bola Tinubu. Clinical training will take place in accredited federal and military hospitals to provide cadets with practical exposure.

Medical cadets will gain entry through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Upon graduation, they will be commissioned as Captains in the Armed Forces, integrating their medical expertise into military service.

A technical working group has been set up to oversee compliance and quality assurance, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Defence Academy, MODHIP, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, National Universities Commission, JAMB, and other regulatory bodies.

Timeline and outlook

The government is making the necessary preparations to commence admissions by October or November 2026, signalling a strategic effort to close Nigeria’s healthcare gap and strengthen military medical readiness.

Officials say the initiative represents a forward-looking approach to building resilience in the healthcare system while enhancing Nigeria’s regional influence in military medical education.

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