The Nigerian Army has announced plans to significantly boost its operational capacity with the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel aimed at addressing escalating security challenges across the country.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this over the week-end, during the Passing-Out Parade of the 90 Regular Recruits Intake at Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria, according to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele. He said the new recruits form the first batch of personnel approved by President Bola Tinubu following the declaration of a state of emergency on national security.
The recruitment drive, he explained, is intended to reinforce the army’s manpower base to combat insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, and other emerging threats. Training depots in Zaria, Amasiri-Eda, and Oshogbo are expected to produce 14,000 recruits in two phases, as part of a broader effort to scale up operational readiness.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu noted that the recruits have undergone six months of intensive training, with an enhanced curriculum focused on counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency operations, marksmanship, and the use of modern military technologies. He said the expansion would improve battlefield effectiveness while easing pressure on troops engaged in prolonged deployments across various theatres of operation.
The Army Chief urged the new soldiers to uphold discipline, loyalty, and professionalism, while warning against breaches of operational security, particularly through unauthorised sharing of sensitive information on social media. He further emphasised respect for human rights and adherence to rules of engagement, noting that these principles are essential to maintaining the institution’s credibility and public trust.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu commended training instructors and staff at Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, for producing what he described as a new cohort of professionally prepared soldiers to support national security operations.