The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has voiced serious concern over the consistently low number of youths from the South-East geopolitical zone enlisting in the Nigerian Army.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu made the remarks on Wednesday during the passing-out parade of the pioneer batch of 90 regular recruits at the Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State. He described the underutilisation of recruitment quotas allocated to the zone as unacceptable and one that should not be allowed to continue.
The Army Chief appealed to traditional rulers, parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders in the South-East to encourage eligible young men and women to take advantage of opportunities in the Nigerian Army. He emphasised that military service represents more than a job — it is an honourable vocation rooted in patriotism, discipline, and national service.
“We ask for your continued support because military service is very demanding. Please stand by them, encourage them and pray for them,” he said. “To our hosts, the Ndigbo, I humbly appeal to you to encourage your youths to take their rightful place in the defence of our fatherland.”
Lt. Gen. Shaibu noted that the Amasiri-Edda Recruit Training Depot, established on November 25, 2025, is the third such facility in the Nigerian Army and the first primary military training institution in the South-East. Its creation, he said, demonstrates the Federal Government’s dedication to national integration, inclusiveness, and equitable development across all regions.
The graduation of the pioneer recruits marks a significant step in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army. The 90 soldiers form part of the first batch of 14,000 recruits approved under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Strategic Force Expansion Initiative. The broader plan aims to recruit a total of 28,000 personnel to boost the Army’s capacity in tackling terrorism, insurgency, banditry, separatist activities, and other security challenges.
The COAS expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his strategic leadership and for approving the resources needed to establish and operationalise the new depot.
Addressing the new soldiers directly, Lt. Gen. Shaibu warned them against the reckless use of social media. He highlighted the risks posed by unauthorised sharing of operational details, images, or sensitive information, stressing that such actions could lead to disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
“A growing trend of indiscretion on social media has had serious consequences for our personnel,” he said, adding that violations undermine discipline, operational security, and the Army’s credibility.
Earlier reports indicated that 3,011 recruits began the training programme, out of which 2,989 successfully completed the rigorous exercise.
