iDeemlawfulThe Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has announced plans to recruit and train 24,000 fresh soldiers to reinforce the Nigerian Army as security challenges continue to escalate.
Shaibu disclosed the move during a visit to 1 Division in Kaduna, where he addressed officers ranging from second lieutenants to lieutenant colonels on Wednesday.
He explained that the recruitment forms part of a wider effort to boost manpower and improve readiness for operations across the country.
According to him, three new training centres approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will train 12,000 personnel in six months, with the capacity to raise the number to 24,000 if two batches are run at the same time.
Shaibu stated that the facilities were strategically situated to produce recruits with enhanced modern combat training, tactical competence, and better weapon-handling skills.
He said the emphasis was not only on expanding the number of troops but also on ensuring the quality of their training.
The COAS reaffirmed the Army’s dedication to the “Soldier First” philosophy, assuring improved welfare and support for personnel while urging senior officers to guide the incoming recruits.
The large-scale recruitment comes as Nigeria grapples with rising insecurity, including insurgency, bandit attacks, and repeated school abductions.
Senators recently reviewed the nation’s defence capacity after incidents such as the assault on Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi, where armed men killed a vice principal and kidnapped 25 students.
Global Firepower’s 2022 ranking places Nigeria as the third-strongest military in Africa, with 135,000 active personnel, 215,000 total military staff, 140 aircraft, 376 tanks, more than 2,000 armoured vehicles, and other assets.
Despite these capabilities, lawmakers maintained that the current strength remains inadequate for existing operations, underscoring the need for new recruitment and strengthened security efforts in volatile regions.
