FG Plans Military Medical College to Curb Shortage of Doctors
Last update: February 20, 2026
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New institution aims to train military and civilian doctors amid Nigeria’s 340,000 doctor gap.
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences to address Nigeria’s estimated shortfall of 340,000 doctors.
The decision followed a high-level meeting of the Ministers of Education, State for Education, and Defence, alongside key stakeholders in education, defence, and health, and was confirmed in a statement by the Ministry of Education.
Nigeria’s population now exceeds 240 million, yet only 189 medical professionals currently serve in the Armed Forces.
CBI News reports that the new college will strengthen military healthcare, expand national medical training capacity, and develop specialists in trauma, emergency response, military public health, and allied health fields.
The initiative complements broader reforms, including an increase in annual medical school admissions from 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with plans to scale to 19,000.
The college will operate within the Nigerian Defence Academy framework, using accredited federal and military hospitals for clinical training.
Graduates will gain admission through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and be commissioned as Captains in the Armed Forces.
