Nigerian Army expresses worry over low recruitment from South East, urges Youths to enlist

The Nigerian Army has raised concern over the poor turnout of South East youths in its ongoing 2025 recruitment exercise, urging them to take advantage of the opportunity and fill the quota allocated to the region.

Speaking during a town hall meeting in Enugu over the weekend, the leader of the Army’s 2025 recruitment enlightenment team, Brigadier-General Chima Ekeator, revealed that while states like Kaduna have already recorded over 3,000 applications, Enugu is still struggling with just about 100.

He described the situation as disturbing and called for urgent change in attitude.

According to him, “Our people are losing what rightly belongs to them. Each year, whenever a slot is allocated to our people, the number of applicants from our side is always very low. Enugu was given 200 slots, but less than 100 applied. This problem is not unique to Enugu but is widespread across the South East.”

Brigadier-General Ekeator also addressed claims that South East indigenes were often sent to battle fronts and killed in high numbers.

He dismissed the allegations as false, stressing that the region has individuals holding key positions in the military.

“There are many falsehoods being spread. People say Igbo soldiers are the first to be sent to war zones and are killed in large numbers. These are lies. We have risen in ranks. For example, one of our brothers, Chibueze Ogbuabor, is currently a top commander in charge of military equipment,” he stated.

Also present at the event, Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, admitted that despite several efforts, the low interest from South East youths persists.

He called for a review of the communication strategy used to reach the younger generation, stressing that modern methods were needed to attract recruits.

“I tried doing a quick research here and found that the military is facing this kind of problem globally. So, we need to adopt smarter recruitment strategies that resonate with the new generation,” Ekweremadu said.

He reaffirmed Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to ensuring Enugu fills its recruitment quota.

The Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Okechukwu Edeh, also pledged continued support from the local councils. However, he urged the Army to also listen to the concerns of the people to make military service more attractive to young people.

Supporting the call for recruitment, the State Coordinator of Enugu Town Union Presidents-General, Arinze Ogbodo; former Chairman of Enugu Traditional Rulers Council, Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzu; and the traditional ruler of Nomeh Unataeze, Lieutenant Colonel Israel Mbah (retd.), all encouraged youths to join the Army.

Mbah added, “I was a military man before. I survived every war. I did my part, and today I am a traditional ruler. I believe our young people should join the force.”