FG to Establish Armed Forces Medical College to Tackle 340,000 Doctor Shortfall
The Federal Government has announced plans to set up the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) as part of measures to address Nigeria’s estimated deficit of 340,000 doctors and strengthen healthcare services within the military. The decision was reached after a high-level meeting involving the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa; the Minister of State for Education, Suiwaba Ahmed; and the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, alongside other key stakeholders in the education, defence, and health sectors. In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the government noted that Nigeria’s population has surpassed 240 million, yet only 189 medical personnel are currently serving in the Armed Forces. The situation, it said, underscores the urgent need for innovative and scalable medical training solutions. The proposed college is intended to serve as a strategic national intervention to strengthen military healthcare delivery, close manpower gaps within the Armed Forces, and expand the country’s overall medical training capacity. It is also expected to position Nigeria as a leading centre for military medical education in West Africa. As part of ongoing reforms, the government revealed that annual medical school admissions have increased from about 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with plans to raise the figure to approximately 19,000 in the coming years. The new institution will contribute to this expansion by producing combat casualty-trained doctors, surgeons, trauma specialists, emergency response medics, military public health experts, disaster response professionals, and other allied health workers. The initiative aligns with the administration’s broader education reform agenda, particularly its focus on science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical sciences. In compliance with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions and in line with directives from President Bola Tinubu, the college will operate within the existing framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Clinical training will be conducted in accredited federal and military hospitals, while admissions will be processed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Upon graduation, medical cadets will be commissioned as Captains in the Armed Forces. To ensure compliance and maintain standards, a Technical Working Group made up of representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Defence Academy, MODHIP, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the National Universities Commission, JAMB, and other regulatory agencies has been constituted. The government stated that necessary arrangements are underway for the first batch of students to commence studies by October or November 2026.
