Insecurity: Army targets 28,000 fresh recruits

The Nigerian Army is set to significantly expand its ranks by recruiting an additional 28,000 soldiers. This move aims to enhance manpower and strengthen ongoing operations against the country's persistent security challenges.

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Manpower is as important as the equipment required to fight insecurity. To this end, we have expanded our recruitment scope by establishing another training depot at Amasiri Edda, making it the third institution to train able-bodied civilians for the Nigerian Army, thereby enhancing our manpower.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, announced the recruitment drive during a press briefing in Abuja, coinciding with the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. Represented by Maj. Gen. Bamidele Alabi, Shaibu highlighted that the recruitment expansion is supported by the establishment of a new training depot at Amasiri Edda, bringing the total number of dedicated recruit training institutions to three.

"Manpower is as important as the equipment required to fight insecurity," Shaibu stated, emphasizing the strategic importance of this expansion. The army chief further elaborated that with this initiative, the Nigerian Army expects to recruit and train 28,000 new troops to help curb the tide of insecurity nationwide.

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With this action, the Nigerian Army is expected to recruit and train an additional 28,000 troops to help stem the tide of insecurity across the country.

In addition to increasing troop numbers, the army is also focusing on strengthening its operational capacity. This includes establishing new brigades and units, continuously reviewing its force structure to address deployment gaps, and responding more effectively to emerging security threats. The service is also acquiring modern platforms, combat enablers, and fostering strategic partnerships.

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Accordingly, the Nigerian Army has established additional brigades and units to boost our operations while continuously reviewing our force structure to bridge observed gaps in deployments and address emerging security challenges across the country.

Shaibu also noted progress in other areas since assuming office seven months prior, including infrastructure development, professionalism, and civil-military relations. His command philosophy centers on transforming the Nigerian Army into a "more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities." This vision is underpinned by a "Soldier-First" culture that prioritizes personnel welfare as a key driver of operational success. The army is also improving deployment strategies and leveraging modern technology as a force multiplier to degrade criminality across the country.

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We are also improving our deployment strategies and employing modern technology as a force multiplier in our efforts to quickly degrade all forms of criminality across the country.