The Federal Government has advanced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) as part of efforts to strengthen military medical services and expand Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
The initiative was consolidated at a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suiwaba Sai’d Ahmed, alongside the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and other key stakeholders from the education, defence and health sectors.
This was contained in a statement on Friday, 20th February, 2026, by the Folasade Boriowo, Director, Head of Press and Public Relations.
According to the Ministry of Education, the proposed college is designed to address critical manpower shortages within the Armed Forces and contribute to the nation’s broader health capacity.
The Minister noted that although Nigeria’s population exceeds 240 million, only 189 medical professionals currently serve within the Defence Forces, while the country faces an overall shortfall of about 340,000 doctors.
The college aligns with the Federal Government’s NESRI 6-Point Agenda, particularly its focus on strengthening science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM).
It is expected to produce combat casualty-trained doctors, surgeons, trauma and emergency specialists, military public health experts, disaster response professionals and other allied health personnel.
As part of ongoing reforms, annual medical school admissions have increased from about 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with projections to reach approximately 19,000 in the coming years.
The Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences is a key component of this expansion strategy.
In compliance with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions and a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the college will be established within the existing framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
It will operate in partnership with accredited federal and military hospitals to ensure robust clinical training.
Medical cadets will gain admission through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and, upon completion of their training, will be commissioned as Captains in the Armed Forces.
The structure is expected to improve retention, reduce attrition and guarantee a steady pipeline of commissioned medical officers.
To ensure regulatory compliance and quality assurance, a Technical Working Group comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Defence Academy, regulatory councils and other stakeholders has been constituted.
The group is expected to facilitate processes for admissions to begin by October or November 2026.
The Federal Government described the establishment of the college as a strategic investment in national health security and military readiness, positioning Nigeria as a potential regional hub for military medical training in West Africa.