Nigeria is stepping up military healthcare with plans for a new Armed Forces College of Medicine, aiming to train thousands of doctors and specialists for the armed forces and beyond.
Abuja – The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) to strengthen military healthcare and address the country’s growing shortage of medical professionals.
The initiative was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a high-level meeting with the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, and other stakeholders. The college will be set up within the Nigerian Defence Academy framework in Lagos State and linked to federal and military hospitals for clinical training.
Alausa said the eight-year program will include six years of academic training, one year of military training, and one year of housemanship, producing doctors, surgeons, trauma specialists, emergency medics, and allied health professionals ready for military service.
The project also aligns with the government’s efforts to expand medical education nationwide. With Nigeria facing a deficit of around 340,000 doctors for a population of over 240 million, the ministry has already doubled medical school admissions from 5,000 to nearly 10,000 annually, with plans to reach 19,000 in the coming years.
A Technical Working Group including representatives from the Ministries of Education and Defence and professional regulatory bodies will ensure quality standards and regulatory compliance. The government hopes admissions will begin by October or November 2026.
Alausa thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting human capital development and emphasized the college’s role in producing disciplined, skilled, and operationally ready military doctors.
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