Federal government has unveiled plans for an Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences to bridge a staggering shortfall of 340,000 doctors, as the country grapples with a healthcare crisis amid its population exceeding 240 million.
The initiative, revealed in a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, follows a strategic meeting involving Education Minister Maruf Tunji Alausa, his deputy Suiwaba Ahmed, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, and sector stakeholders.
The college aims to bolster military healthcare while expanding national training capacity, positioning Nigeria as a West African leader in military medical education.
“The proposed college is a strategic national intervention to strengthen military healthcare services, address manpower shortages in the Armed Forces, expand overall medical training capacity, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for military medical training in West Africa,” the ministry stated.
Currently, only 189 medical professionals serve in the Armed Forces, highlighting the urgent need for specialized personnel in combat casualty care, trauma surgery, emergency response, and disaster management.
As part of wider reforms, annual medical school admissions have doubled from 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with projections to reach 19,000 soon. The new institution will integrate into this framework, operating under the Nigerian Defence Academy to comply with a seven-year ban on new tertiary facilities.
Admissions will occur through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, with graduates commissioned as captains in the military. Clinical training will leverage accredited federal and military hospitals.
A Technical Working Group, comprising representatives from education, defence, regulatory bodies like the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and the National Universities Commission, will ensure standards are met.
Enrolment is slated to begin in October or November 2026, according to the ministry.
Government spokespersons provided no further details on funding or timelines.
