A bill to establish the Armed Forces Medical College in Abuja has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
The sponsor, Rep. Benson Babajimi (APC–Lagos), said the proposed college would train doctors and allied professionals for the Armed Forces and other uniformed services.
He said, “A nation’s healthcare capacity is a major determinant of its security posture.”
Babajimi noted that dependable medical support was essential for troop welfare, casualty care, and preventive services across the military.
He added that Nigeria’s health sector continued to face shortages, uneven distribution of specialists, and the persistent migration of skilled personnel.
He argued that a military medical college would create a mission-driven pipeline of physicians trained to meet military needs.
Citing a 2022 report, he said more than 9,000 doctors left Nigeria between 2016 and 2018, with many more planning to leave.
He added that thousands had also migrated in subsequent years, further worsening the shortage of medical professionals.
Babajimi said only 21 doctors were commissioned into the Army between 2019 and 2025, while the same number left the service.
“Presently, the Army has only 189 doctors, of whom 71 are in civilian specialist training,” he said.
He added that the Army required at least 15 times its current medical workforce to meet operational demands.
He warned that the shortages were undermining routine care, surgical capacity, and the staffing of military health facilities.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu referred the bill to the relevant committees for further consideration.
