The Federal Government has announced a significant expansion of the nation’s military training infrastructure with the immediate approval for the establishment of a new Nigerian Army depot in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. This presidential directive, which was confirmed by President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, raises the total number of operational army depots in Nigeria to three, adding to the long-standing facilities located in Kaduna and Osogbo. Olusegun noted on his X account, “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.”
The strategic move is directly linked to ongoing efforts to reinforce the Nigerian Army’s capacity amid pervasive security challenges across the country. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasized that the decision is geared towards increasing the army’s overall strength. Speaking in a video shared by Olusegun, General Shaibu stated, “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.”
The new Abakaliki depot will play a crucial role in troop generation, with plans to immediately train 3,500 additional soldiers there, followed by the deployment of another 3,500 troops arriving next week from the Osogbo facility. These soldiers will undergo rigorous advanced infantry training before their deployment in various areas of operation. The COAS highlighted the integration of modern technology, including indoor shooting ranges, to enhance marksmanship and overall operational readiness. General Shaibu underscored that the initiative is expected to substantially boost the army’s ability to tackle security threats and improve its effectiveness nationwide.
The announcement comes as the Nigerian Army recently graduated 3,439 new recruits from its Zaria depot. These soldiers, part of the 89 Regular Recruit Intake, completed their six-month training and participated in a Passing Out Parade on Friday, ready for deployment across the nation. Army spokesperson, Colonel Appolonia Anele, released a statement yesterday quoting the COAS as urging the newly inducted soldiers to uphold the highest standards of loyalty, discipline, and professionalism. General Shaibu welcomed the recruits, affirming, “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.” This latest addition follows a similar Passing Out Parade held in June this year for the 88 Regular Recruit Intake, which produced 6,195 newly recruited soldiers.
