The National Defence College is the apex military training institution for the Nigerian Armed Forces, and a Centre of Excellence for peace support operations training at the strategic level in West Africa. It was established in 1992 as the highest military institution for the training of senior military officers in Nigeria.

Since the Nigerian Armed Forces had long established a strong tri-service military training heritage with the establishment of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, for cadet training, and the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, for middle level staff training, it was appropriate and cost effective to continue the tradition by establishing the new strategic level military institution, the National Defence College, on a tri-service basis.

The NDC started operating from a temporary site at the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs building at the Marina, Lagos. In August, 1995, the College was moved from Lagos to Abuja (the new Federal Capital), to yet another temporary site located at Herbert Macaulay Way (North), adjacent to the prestigious International Conference Centre.The permanent site is at Piwoyi, along airport road, Abuja (FCT).

The Objectives of the College are to:

  1. Prepare senior military and civilian officers for operational and strategic level responsibilities at national and international environments.
  2. Underpin leadership and command functions with a firm understanding of geographical considerations affecting Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.
  3. Develop an in-depth understanding of elements of national power which will aid in the formulation of grand national strategy.
  4. Provide knowledge of the political and strategic framework for policy making and operations in joint and multinational environments.
  5. Relate within a democratic framework, the higher management of defence to the broader national interests.
  6. Undertake advanced academic research at national strategic policy level.
  7. Proffer policy recommendations on specific national and international issues that border on national security.

G01 Zakaria Maimalari Street,
Central Business District,
Abuja, Nigeria.