The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, has disclosed plans by the Nigerian Army to recruit and train 24,000 new soldiers as part of efforts to strengthen security operations across the country.
The CoAS disclosed this on Wednesday during a visit to the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, where he addressed officers ranging from second lieutenants to captains and lieutenant colonels.
Lieutenant General Shuaibu stressed that the ambitious recruitment drive is central to the Army’s strategy to tackle evolving security threats nationwide.
“The area of responsibility is vast and security challenges are dynamic. To meet these threats effectively, we need boots on the ground,” Shuaibu said.
According to him, the army aims to train 12,000 recruits within six months using three newly approved training facilities, adding that running two training streams would enable the production of as many as 24,000 soldiers ready for deployment.
“The recruitment effort is a key component of the army’s plan to tackle new security threats and boost the preparedness of forces stationed nationwide.
“In six months, we aim to train 12,000 soldiers from three new training facilities. If we operate two streams, we can produce up to 24,000 soldiers ready for deployment,” he said.
The CoAS clarified that the newly approved training centers by President Bola Tinubu are strategically positioned to produce soldiers equipped with advanced skills in modern warfare, tactical maneuvers, and weapon proficiency.
He emphasised that the initiative seeks not only to boost the army’s numerical strength but also to improve the quality, professionalism and combat readiness of its personnel.
The new soldiers, he noted, will undergo rigorous training in fundamental tactics, combat abilities and leadership principles to sustain the army’s operational standards.