The Managing Director/CEO of Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), Surgeon Rear Admiral LM Adams (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal SK Aneke, at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday, 29 September 2026.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss key issues affecting healthcare access and service delivery for serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (especially the personnels of the Nigerian Air Force).
Key issues discussed included:
* The need for personnel to adhere to NHIA guidelines and access healthcare through the appropriate channels.
* The importance of registration through the Open Enrollment Portal (OEP).
* Proper referral procedures and the use of referral codes by Healthcare Providers (HCPs).
* Improving manpower and equipment in Nigerian Airforce Hospitals to strengthen service delivery and reduce unnecessary referrals.
* Increased advocacy and engagement to encourage personnel to enrol with DHML.
* Challenges surrounding medication access, funding and the benefits package.
* The importance of preventive healthcare and regular engagement between DHML and the Nigerian Air Force.
The Chief of the Air Staff assured the MD/CEO of DHML of his full support and commitment towards improving access to quality healthcare for personnel of the Nigerian Airforce. He also emphasised the importance of proper enrolment, adherence to established procedures and continuous engagement with DHML.
The visit further reinforced the shared commitment of DHML and the Nigerian Air Force to strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that personnel receive the healthcare support they deserve.
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SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS DURING COURTESY VISIT OF THE MD/CEO, DHML, REAR ADMIRAL LM ADAMS (RTD) TO THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF, GENERAL O.O. OLUYEDE
On 9th September 2026, the MD/CEO of DHML, Rear Admiral LM Adams (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defense Staff, General O.O. Oluyede in his office.
Key Issues Highlighted by the MD/CEO, DHML includes but not limited to:
1. Non-adherence to NHIA Rules by Personnel: Some personnel are going to civil and private hospitals to enroll and thereafter submitting bills to DHML for payment, which is not acceptable.
2. Low Registration Through OEP: Personnel are not keying into registration through the OEP. The MD highlighted the setbacks this could cause.
Issues Raised by the CDS includes:
1. Capitation : The CDS complained that the capitation is not enough. He urged DHML to engage NHIA to make more funds available for the treatment of personnel.
2. Exclusion of key Illnesses such as Gunshot Injuries: The CDS expressed concern that gunshot injuries, which can occur to military personnel in the line of duty, are not covered by NHIA. He described this as surprising and heartbreaking and called for it to be reviewed.
3. Cancer Treatment: There should be adequate plans for the treatment of cancer cases, including chemotherapy. He also recommended that there should be better and dedicated hospitals to cater for veterans.
4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) : The CDS requested that DHML support the Services on issues relating to PTSD.
5. Registration : The CDS suggested that DHML could liaise with the Military Pension Board (MPB) for the successful implementation of the registration of personnel into DHML.
Conclusion: At the end of the meeting, the CDS pledged his support for DHML in all aspects.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 36TH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DEFENCE HEALTH MAINTENANCE LIMITED
a. Board approval of the DHML 2026 Budget Estimates of and the audited account for Year 2025.
b. Board approval of the supplementary budget the construction of a perimeter fence, gate house, signpost indicating the proposed “Armed Forces Veterans Hospital and Wellness Centre” on DHML land in Jahi, Abuja and the commemoration of the DHML 20 years Anniversary Celebration.
c. Appointment of Surgeon Rear Admiral LM Adams (Rtd) as the 4th Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer to succeed Surgeon Rear Admiral AB Afolayan (Rtd) whose tenure of office ends in July 2026.
FELICITATION: The MD/CEO DHML Surgeon Rear Admiral AB Afolayan (Rtd), on behalf of the DHML Management and members of staff of DHML is immensely grateful to the Board of Directors of DHML for their commitment to guiding DHML through continual delivery of excellent service to the members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (Serving and Retired). Also, the news of a successor to incumbent MD/CEO was received with much joy and enthusiasm.
INTEGRATED ADMINISTRATIVE PROTOCOLS CRITICAL TO OPTIMIZING MEDICAL SERVICES, TROOPS’ WELFARE – COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has stressed that the optimization of medical services within the Nigerian Army is fundamentally dependent on the integration of standardized administrative protocols and robust inter-agency synergy. He made this known on Tuesday, 7 April 2026 while receiving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), Surgeon Rear Admiral Azeeze Bayo Afolayan (Rtd), during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
The COAS noted that as the Nigerian Army continues to conduct complex operations across the six geopolitical zones, maintaining the physical and mental readiness of the force remains a strategic priority that demands a responsive and modern healthcare framework. He added that the welfare of personnel must extend beyond active service to encompass the dignified sustenance of veterans.
General Shaibu observed that retirement often introduces socio-economic vulnerabilities due to limited access to resources, stressing that the “man must survive” after a lifetime of dedicated service. He reaffirmed that the commitment of the Nigerian Army to its retirees is a lifelong obligation, advocating for a safety net that ensures former service members are not left without financial or medical assistance. He described the MD of DHML as a quintessential “insider” whose continued contribution post-retirement exemplifies the value of institutional memory in national service.
In his remarks, Surgeon Rear Admiral Afolayan (Rtd) advocated for the institutionalization of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), specifically for the Human Resources and administrative departments within military medical units. He emphasized that the functionality of healthcare delivery relies on standardized forms and operational clarity, moving away from ad-hoc processes to a more disciplined, policy-driven approach. This modernization, he noted, is essential to ensure that medical personnel data is accurately captured and that administrative hurdles do not impede the swift delivery of care to troops and their families nationwide.
The Managing Director detailed a framework for maximizing the utilization of Secondary Care Providers (SCPs). He clarified that the expansion of SCPs is a strategic mechanism to share medical cadres more effectively across various units. According to him, by leveraging functional, well-equipped SCPs, the Nigerian Army can optimize its medical workforce and ensure that every soldier, particularly those in volatile theatres of operation have access to specialist care through a streamlined and cost-effective management system.
