Federal Government targets admission of first batch of military medical cadets in 2026 to address a 93 per cent personnel deficit in the Armed Forces healthcare system.
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to begin training doctors, nurses and other specialised healthcare professionals exclusively for the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the first batch of military medical cadets expected to be admitted in the 2026 academic session.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, disclosed the development in Abuja during the inauguration of a Technical Working Group established to fast-track the creation of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Alausa described the initiative as a strategic investment in national security and human capital development, noting that the specialised institution would end the military’s long-standing dependence on civilian universities for medical personnel.
He said the college would produce healthcare professionals equipped to meet the unique demands of military operations, including battlefield medicine and Tactical Combat Casualty Care.
According to the minister, annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased from about 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405 students, with the Federal Government targeting at least 20,000 admissions over the next two years. Nursing enrolment has also risen from about 28,000 to nearly 120,000 nationwide.
Alausa stressed that the proposed institution is not intended to compete with conventional universities but to ensure the Armed Forces become self-sufficient in producing the healthcare professionals they require.
The Technical Working Group has been tasked with developing the academic curriculum, coordinating accreditation processes and integrating military and academic training to ensure the successful commencement of academic activities in 2026.
Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, revealed that the college would adopt the model of the Uniformed Services University in the United States and will be located at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
He disclosed that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 per cent deficit in medical personnel, making the project critical to strengthening Nigeria’s military healthcare system.
The Federal Government said the initiative aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at expanding medical education and addressing the country’s shortage of healthcare professionals while improving healthcare delivery within the Armed Forces.