The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has appealed to leaders, parents, guardians and traditional rulers across Nigeria’s South-East to encourage more young men and women to enlist in the Nigerian Army, expressing concern that the region has consistently failed to fill its recruitment quota.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on stakeholders in the South-East to mobilise eligible youths to join the Nigerian Army, saying the region’s recruitment quota has remained largely underutilised in recent years.
He made the appeal during the passing-out parade of the first set of regular recruits trained at the newly established Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State.
Addressing the graduating recruits, Shaibu said the Nigerian Army remains a national institution that belongs to every Nigerian and stressed the need for balanced representation from all parts of the country.
He expressed concern that recruitment slots allocated to the South-East have repeatedly gone unfilled despite ongoing enlistment exercises, urging community leaders, parents and guardians to encourage qualified youths to take advantage of future recruitment opportunities.
According to the Army Chief, increased participation from the region would strengthen national integration while providing career opportunities for young Nigerians.
The appeal comes as the Nigerian Army continues efforts to expand its manpower to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
The Army recently announced plans to recruit and train an additional 28,000 personnel following the establishment of a third recruit training depot in Ebonyi State, a move aimed at improving operational capacity and addressing manpower needs.
Shaibu encouraged South-East leaders to embark on sustained public sensitisation campaigns to improve awareness about opportunities within the military.
He also assured Nigerians that the Army remains committed to professionalism, national unity and the protection of the country’s territorial integrity, urging citizens to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.
The Army Chief’s appeal underscores the military’s ongoing drive to improve regional participation in recruitment while strengthening its capacity to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. Authorities say greater public participation in recruitment and community support remain essential to building a stronger and more representative armed force.