Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged his administration’s full support for the Nigerian Army’s recruitment drive in the state, following concerns over low participation from Abia youths.
During a meeting with the Army’s Recruitment Awareness Team, Governor Otti, represented by his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, expressed worry that only 53 applicants came forward for nearly 200 available recruitment slots in the last exercise. He described the turnout as disappointing and vowed to ramp up sensitization efforts to change the trend.
The governor emphasized the need to encourage more young people to consider careers in the military, noting that it offers not only a path to personal development but also an opportunity to serve the nation. He assured the team that the government would establish consistent awareness programs to inform eligible youths about the benefits and honor of serving in the Nigerian Army.
Brigadier General Chima Ekeator, who led the Army’s Recruitment Awareness Team, highlighted that Southeastern states have continually underutilized their recruitment quotas. He stressed the need for more balanced regional representation in the Nigerian military to foster national unity and effectiveness.
The drive to increase military enlistment in Abia is part of a wider regional initiative aimed at strengthening national security through local participation. However, this push faces resistance from groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who have criticized Igbo youths joining the Nigerian Army, citing distrust in federal security operations and concerns about herdsmen-related violence in the region.
In a related development, neighboring Rivers State has also urged its youths to take advantage of ongoing military recruitment as a means to build secure careers and contribute to national peace and development.
