The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, has appealed to leaders, parents and guardians across the South East to encourage more young people to join the Nigerian Army, lamenting that the region has consistently failed to fill its recruitment quota.
Speaking during the passing-out parade of 2,989 regular recruits at the Nigerian Army Recruits Training Depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State, Shaibu said the newly established depot was created to boost enlistment from the South East and urged communities to embrace the opportunity.
“The recruitment quota from this zone has not been fully utilised. This should not continue,” he said, adding that military service is an honourable path of patriotism, leadership and national service. He called on community leaders, parents, guardians and elders to encourage young men and women to enlist.
The Army Chief told the new soldiers that Nigeria’s security challenges—including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, separatist violence, organised crime and cyber thr+ats require discipline, sacrifice and unwavering commitment.
He also warned personnel against violating the Army’s social media policy, stressing that sharing operational information, military images, sensitive locations or unverified content online could result in disciplinary action, including dismissal.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Army, pledging to provide a peaceful environment for military training and strengthen cooperation between the military and host communities.
