To Boost Security, Tinubu Approves New Army Depot in Ebonyi, Army Graduates 3,439 Recruits for Deployment

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The federal government has announced plans to establish a new Nigerian Army depot in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

This is just as 3,439 Nigerian Army recruits have graduated from the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.

The president’s approval raises the number of army depots in Nigeria to three, with the existing facilities in Kaduna and Osogbo, which have served the country for decades.

Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, disclosed in a post shared on X yesterday.

He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new depot for the Nigerian Army in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. This development takes the number of depots in Nigeria to three, up from one that has existed for decades – Kaduna, ⁠Osogbo, ⁠Abakaliki.”

In a video shared by Olusegun, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said the move is aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Army amid security challenges nationwide.

“All these are geared towards increasing the strength of the Nigerian Army, and the reasons are not far-fetched. There are security challenges across the length and breadth of the country in each geopolitical zone,” Shaibu said.

He added that 3,500 additional troops would be trained at the new depot, with another 3,500 set to arrive next week from Osogbo.

According to Shaibu, the soldiers will undergo advanced infantry training, leveraging technology such as indoor shooting ranges to improve marksmanship and operational readiness.

“So now with this additional 3,500 troops coming on board, as well as next week we have another 3,500 troops coming on board from Oshogo, all these troops will now be given further training, advanced infantry training, before their deployment in various areas of operation. To increase the strength of our venerable troops and boots on the ground in tackling the security challenges in the country.

“Even in training here, we are leveraging technology. We have an indoor shooting range, which is one of the ways we aim to improve their marksmanship. And that is part of leveraging technology, as discussed in their training session. When they go to the field, they will have more advanced specialist training as well, so that they complement their skills in preparing them for the tasks ahead,” he said.

According to Shaibu, the new depot is expected to boost the army’s capacity to tackle security threats and enhance operational effectiveness across Nigeria.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 3,439 recruits of the Nigerian Army have graduated from the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.

The recruits, who are members of the 89 Regular Recruit Intake, completed six months of training at the depot and were presented during a Passing Out Parade on Friday.

Following the completion of their training, the soldiers will be deployed to various parts of the country.

In a statement released yesterday, the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Shaibu, urged the new soldiers to uphold loyalty, discipline, and professionalism as they join the service.

“The Nigerian Army continues to confront emerging domestic and transnational security threats. Your induction today is not only a boost to our manpower but a reinforcement of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of every Nigerian. You are now part of a professional, combat-ready force capable of decisively responding to any threat to our nation,” the COAS was quoted as saying.

In June this year, a Passing Out Parade was conducted for a total of 6,195 newly recruited soldiers who are members of the 88 Regular Recruit Intake.