The Nigerian Army has announced plans to recruit and train 280,000 additional personnel as part of efforts to strengthen its capacity in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other security threats across the country. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, disclosed the plan while speaking on the Army’s ongoing transformation agenda, saying the large-scale recruitment is aimed at boosting troop strength and improving the military’s operational effectiveness.
Oluyede said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance national security by expanding the Army’s manpower, improving training, and equipping soldiers to tackle emerging security challenges. According to him, the Army has continued to intensify operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups in different parts of the country but noted that increasing troop numbers has become necessary to sustain the momentum of ongoing military operations.
He explained that the recruits would undergo rigorous military training before deployment to various formations nationwide, with emphasis on professionalism, discipline and modern warfare techniques. The Army Chief reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and restoring peace in troubled communities, assuring Nigerians that efforts to end insecurity remain a top priority.
He also called for continued support from citizens, stressing that effective intelligence sharing and cooperation with security agencies remain critical to winning the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality. The planned recruitment is expected to significantly strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity as the military continues its campaign against insurgents in the North-East, bandits in the North-West and other armed criminal groups across the country.
