NIGERIA: Low Military Enlistment In South-East Worries Nigerian Army

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Nigerian Army has raised an alarm over the dwindling number of applications from the South-East region in its 2025 recruitment exercise.

They are warning that the trend may deprive the zone of its allotted slots in the national military structure.

Speaking during a recruitment sensitization tour in Enugu on Sunday, Brigadier-General Chima Ekeator, leader of the Army’s enlightenment team, lamented the stark contrast in application numbers between Southeast states and other regions.

According to him, while Kaduna State has already recorded over 3,000 applications, Enugu State trails behind with only about 100 submissions—well below its allocated 200 slots.

“Our people are losing what rightly belongs to them. This has become a recurring decimal across the South-East. We cannot recruit what is not available,” Ekeator said.

Dismissing persistent claims that recruits from the region are deliberately sent to battlefronts, resulting in disproportionate casualties, the Army chief emphasized that Igbo officers hold key command roles within the force.

He cited Major General Chibueze Ogbuabor as one of the prominent figures in charge of military equipment nationwide.

Echoing his concerns, Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, acknowledged the poor turnout despite ongoing efforts. He called for improved recruitment messaging to resonate with the modern youth demographic.

“Recruitment strategies need to evolve. Globally, militaries are adopting new methods to engage young people. We must do the same,” Ekweremadu said, affirming Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to mobilizing local participation.

Chairman of Enugu ALGON, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged deeper collaboration with local councils but urged the Army to address lingering public mistrust.

Traditional leaders and community heads present at the event, including retired Lieutenant Colonel Israel Mbah, also rallied support for enlistment, appealing to youths to see the Army as a noble calling.

Mbah said, “I survived every war and today I am a traditional ruler. Serving in the military is a source of pride and service to our nation.”

The Army team is expected to continue its sensitization campaign across the South-East in a bid to reverse the trend before recruitment closes.