LAGOS — The Nigerian Army has intensified efforts to curb the growing exodus of medical personnel by prioritising training, improved welfare and enhanced working conditions within its medical corps.
Commander of the Corps of Medical (CCM), Brigadier-General Innocent Enwuchola, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Corps’ First Quarter Conference 2026 held at Bonny Cantonment, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The conference, themed “Optimising NA Resources for Excellent Healthcare Delivery Within a Joint Environment,” brought together commanders and stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to strengthen healthcare delivery across the military.
Enwuchola said the Army leadership was already reviewing salary structures for medical personnel, following resolutions reached at the December 2025 annual conference, with the aim of boosting morale and improving service delivery.
He explained that better remuneration and improved working conditions were critical to retaining skilled professionals, noting that brain drain was largely driven by the search for better pay and opportunities abroad.
“Once salaries are enhanced and the working environment improved, our personnel will be encouraged to stay,” he said.
The commander noted that since assuming office on October 31, 2025, he had prioritised engagement with field commanders to address operational challenges and chart a clear path forward for the corps.
He added that ongoing investments in capacity building, medical infrastructure and institutional development were already yielding positive results, with more doctors and healthcare personnel being recruited to replace those who had exited the system.
Enwuchola further revealed that several medical officers were currently undergoing residency programmes, with at least 12 completing their training last year and more expected to qualify in 2026.
He expressed optimism that the combined measures would significantly strengthen the corps, improve healthcare delivery and ensure the availability of qualified personnel to meet the medical needs of the Nigerian Army.
