The Nigerian Army has officially raised concerns regarding the alarmingly low number of application submissions from the Southeast geopolitical zone for its 2025 recruitment drive. Brigadier-General Chima Ekeator, leading the Army’s recruitment enlightenment team, disclosed this disparity in Enugu on Sunday. He highlighted a stark contrast in application numbers, citing Kaduna State with over 3,000 applicants compared to Enugu State’s approximate hundred, a trend reportedly consistent across the entire Southeast region.
Brigadier-General Ekeator emphasized the potential for the Southeast to lose its allocated recruitment quotas due to this insufficient application rate. He urged youths in the region to actively participate in the recruitment process in greater numbers to ensure the zone fills its designated slots. He directly refuted allegations suggesting that individuals of Southeast origin disproportionately face fatalities on the front lines, clarifying that such claims are false and that individuals from the region currently hold prominent and strategic positions within the Nigerian Army hierarchy.
Various stakeholders in Enugu State, including the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, and representatives from local government and traditional institutions, acknowledged the persistent nature of this low application trend. They collectively called for a re-evaluation of recruitment advertising strategies to better engage the youth and provide comprehensive information regarding the benefits and opportunities associated with military service.
While reiterating their commitment to encouraging youth participation, some leaders also urged the military high command to address any underlying concerns that might be deterring potential applicants from the Southeast.
