The Nigerian Army has raised urgent concerns about the dangerously low participation of Southeast youth in military service, with new recruitment data revealing a staggering disparity between regions.
At an emergency town hall meeting in Enugu this weekend, military officials disclosed that while Kaduna State has produced over 3,000 applicants for the 2025 recruitment cycle, the entire Southeast region is struggling to fill its allocated quotas.
Brigadier-General Chima Ekeator, leader of the Army’s recruitment team, presented shocking statistics showing Enugu State – with 200 available slots – has attracted only 100 applicants so far. “This isn’t just an Enugu problem,” Ekeator stressed. “It’s a recurring pattern across all five Southeast states that’s depriving our youth of valuable opportunities.”
The Army leadership forcefully dismissed persistent myths discouraging Igbo youth from enlisting, particularly claims that Southeast recruits face disproportionate frontline deployment. “These dangerous falsehoods must stop,” Ekeator said, pointing to high-ranking Igbo officers like Major General Chibueze Ogbuabor, who currently oversees critical Army equipment operations.
Enugu State officials proposed modernizing recruitment strategies to appeal to digital-native youth, with Youth Commissioner Dr. Lloyd Ekweremadu noting: “We’re dealing with a generation that requires different communication approaches.” Traditional rulers pledged grassroots mobilization efforts, while retired Lieutenant Colonel Israel Mbah, now a community leader, shared his positive military experience to counter negative perceptions.
The recruitment crisis emerges as Nigeria’s military faces its most significant personnel expansion in a decade, with 10,000 new slots available this year. Defense analysts warn the Southeast’s underrepresentation could have long-term implications for regional integration and national security architecture. Governor Peter Mbah has ordered all local governments to launch immediate enrollment drives, calling military service “a noble profession that builds character and patriotism.”
With the application deadline approaching, Army officials are conducting emergency outreach across Southeast markets, universities and social media platforms, emphasizing career benefits and the chance to serve the nation. “These slots belong to Southeast youth,” Ekeator implored. “We can’t let them go to waste.”
