The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, has unveiled ambitious plans to recruit and train 24,000 new soldiers within the next year to significantly strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity amid rising security challenges.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during the COAS’s operational tour of the 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna, where he addressed mid-level and junior officers ranging from second lieutenants to lieutenant colonels.
Speaking to the troops, Lt Gen. Shuaibu stressed the need for a larger, better-prepared force to confront the country’s dynamic and widespread security threats.
“Our area of responsibility is vast, and the nature of the threats we face keeps evolving. We need more boots on the ground to dominate the battlefield,” he said.
He revealed that three new ultra-modern training facilities, recently approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be used to fast-track the recruitment drive.
“In the next six months, we plan to train 12,000 soldiers. By running two concurrent training streams, we will deliver a total of 24,000 well-trained combatants ready for immediate deployment,” the COAS stated.
The new recruits will undergo intensive training in modern warfare, advanced tactics, weapon handling, combat leadership, and operational readiness to ensure they can be deployed straight into active theatres upon graduation.
Lt Gen. Shuaibu emphasised that the initiative is not merely about numbers but about raising a highly professional and effective fighting force.
“These are desperate times for our nation. The soldiers we produce must be physically fit, mentally tough, tactically proficient, and ready to confront banditry, insurgency, and all forms of criminality head-on,” he declared.
He assured troops that the Army remains committed to the “Soldier First” policy, with enhanced welfare packages, better accommodation, medical care, and support for both serving personnel and the incoming recruits.
The COAS also charged the officers to mentor the new soldiers, instilling discipline, regimentation, and the core values of the Nigerian Army to maintain professionalism and combat effectiveness.
The massive recruitment is expected to bolster troop presence in troubled regions, improve rapid-response capabilities, and provide better protection for civilians and critical national infrastructure.
During the visit, Lt Gen. Shuaibu also reviewed ongoing operations, logistics support, and welfare programmes for troops in the North West and other operational theatres.
The Nigerian Army says the expanded manpower will mark a turning point in its ability to restore lasting peace and security across the country.
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