FG unveils plan for military medical college to address doctor shortage
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences to address Nigeria’s shortage of doctors. The move was revealed after a meeting involving Maruf Alausa, Suiwaba Ahmed, and Christopher Musa, along with other key stakeholders. The new college aims to boost military healthcare services and expand medical training capacity in the country. The initiative is part of broader reforms to strengthen medical education and address manpower gaps.
What we know
- The Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences will help tackle Nigeria’s estimated shortfall of 340,000 doctors.
- Only 189 medical professionals currently serve within the Defence Forces, despite Nigeria’s population exceeding 240 million.
- Annual medical school admissions have increased from about 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with plans to reach approximately 19,000 in the coming years.
- The college will operate within the Nigerian Defence Academy and comply with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions.
- Admissions to the new college are expected to commence by October or November 2026.
