By Nkechi Eze
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery for Armed Forces personnel, with renewed efforts aimed at reducing medical tourism and expanding Nigeria’s in-country treatment capacity.
According to an official signed statement by Captain Moses Yare for the Director of Information and Public Relations, General Musa made the pledge during a courtesy visit to the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, where he stressed the need for a robust and self-reliant military healthcare system capable of providing accessible, timely, and world-class medical services to personnel.
The Defence Minister noted that Nigeria had over the years expended significant resources on overseas medical treatment, insisting that the country must begin to build confidence in its own institutions through the provision of reliable healthcare services that meet global standards.
“Nigeria has expended substantial resources on overseas medical treatment in the past. We must build confidence in our own institutions by providing reliable services that meet global standards,” he stated.
General Musa outlined several ongoing reforms within the Defence Health Sector, including improved medical screening procedures, early diagnosis mechanisms, and enhanced capacity for managing critical health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases.
He also disclosed plans to establish a comprehensive mental health framework to support military personnel confronting the psychological pressures associated with operations against insurgency, terrorism, and banditry across the country.
Addressing operational challenges, the minister expressed concern over the security risks faced by medical personnel deployed in conflict areas, adding that measures were being implemented to strengthen their protection and operational support systems.
The minister further revealed plans to harmonise medical reporting systems across the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force to improve healthcare coordination and efficiency within the Armed Forces.
General Musa also highlighted ongoing collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and international partners aimed at improving training standards and enhancing healthcare delivery within military medical institutions.
During the visit, the Defence Minister met Officer Cadet Salim Abdulnazir, who is currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained during training at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He commended the management and staff of AMCE for their professionalism and the facility’s world-class medical standards.
In her remarks, the Chief Medical Officer of AMCE, Dr Aisha Umar, welcomed the minister and reaffirmed the centre’s readiness to partner with the Ministry of Defence in delivering quality healthcare services.
She stated that the centre possesses state-of-the-art facilities and highly qualified medical professionals capable of providing treatment comparable to global standards.
General Musa expressed confidence that the ongoing interventions and partnerships would significantly improve health outcomes, enhance personnel welfare, and build a more resilient military healthcare system for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
