To address severe gaps in medical staffing within the Armed Forces, the Federal Government is moving forward with the creation of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS), a specialized institution aimed at training doctors and health professionals for military service.
The development follows a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of Education – Maruf Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education – Suiwaba Sai’d Ahmed, with participation from Minister of Defence – Christopher Gwabin Musa, Minister of State for Defence – Bello Matawalle, and senior officials from the ministries of education, defence and health.
The announcement was confirmed in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade. The proposed college will operate under the framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy, in line with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on creating new tertiary institutions.
The initiative forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader reform agenda to deepen education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM) while expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
Alausa highlighted the critical shortage of medical personnel in the Armed Forces, noting that only 189 doctors currently serve despite Nigeria’s population exceeding 240 million. He also revealed a nationwide deficit of about 340,000 doctors, stressing the need for targeted strategies to strengthen both military and civilian healthcare capacity.
The Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences is expected to produce highly skilled medical professionals for the Armed Forces, improving healthcare delivery for military personnel and enhancing national health security.
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