The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has declared that the proposed Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences will deliver the desired healthcare vision for both military personnel and civilian Nigerians.
Matawalle spoke in Abuja during a high-level strategic meeting between the Ministries of Defence and Education on the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Services.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Education, brought together the Minister of Education, Morufu Olatunji Alausa, and other critical stakeholders.
In a statement signed by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, the minister said effective collaboration among key ministries and institutions remains vital to the successful implementation of healthcare reforms.
He stressed that the initiative would address the persistent shortage of medical doctors within the Armed Forces by training personnel specifically dedicated to military service.
According to him, the move will drastically reduce reliance on civilian doctors, many of whom are reluctant to enlist in the military.
The proposed college will operate as an integral part of the Nigerian Defence Academy, with its main campus in Lagos.
It is expected to leverage existing facilities, including the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba; Military Hospital, Lagos; Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Ojo; and the 661 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Ikeja, among others.
Matawalle said the project aligns with the presidential directive of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen national security through highly specialised and well-trained military medical professionals.
“What is crucial is that we define the broad parameters and articulate the vision for the healthcare system we desire for our servicemen and the Nigerian populace at large,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, Brig. Gen. IB Solebo, described the initiative as timely, especially following the pledge of support from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the United States.
The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj. Gen. OT Olatoye, affirmed the academy’s readiness to establish a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to support the college.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education disclosed that the first admission into the college is projected to commence by November this year.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed confidence that with proper planning and adherence to quality standards, the college would become a cornerstone in Nigeria’s military and public healthcare system.