Nigeria Army to Recruit 28,000 New Soldiers — Third Training Depot Opens at Amasiri Edda

The Nigeria Army recruit drive for 28,000 additional soldiers is officially underway, backed by the commissioning of a brand-new training depot at Amasiri Edda. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, announced the expansion on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. The message was unmistakable — Nigeria’s military is scaling up fast, and it intends to match every security threat with greater firepower and more boots on the ground.

Nigerian Army Recruit Drive Gets Boost With New Training Depot at Amasiri Edda

The new Amasiri Edda facility becomes Nigeria’s third Army training depot, directly enabling the planned 28,000-troop expansion nationwide.

Lt. Gen. Shaibu, represented by Maj. Gen. Bamidele Alabi, explained the strategic thinking behind the expansion clearly.

“Manpower is as important as the equipment required to fight insecurity. “We expanded our recruitment scope by establishing another training depot at Amasiri Edda — the third institution to train civilians for the Nigerian Army,” Shaibu said.

He further confirmed that the Army established additional brigades and units, continuously reviewing its force structure to address emerging security challenges nationwide.

Additionally, the Army chief noted that modern platforms, combat enablers, and strategic partnerships continue to strengthen operational capability. Furthermore, the military has institutionalised recognition systems for gallantry, improved personnel welfare programmes, and launched massive infrastructure upgrades across formations nationwide.

Army Targets Boko Haram, Bandits, and Kidnappers With Expanded Nigerian Army Recruit Drive

The timing of this recruitment push is no accident. Nigeria battles complex security threats — from ISWAP and Boko Haram in the northeast, to banditry, kidnapping, and separatist activities across other regions.

Shaibu confirmed that Nigerian troops have significantly degraded Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, kidnappers, and separatist elements threatening national security.

Moreover, the Army chief outlined his command philosophy as transforming the Nigerian Army into “a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.”

Central to that vision is what he described as a “Soldier-First” culture. This approach prioritises personnel welfare and family support as a key driver of operational success in the field.

He also emphasised the Army’s use of modern technology as a force multiplier, improving deployment strategies to quickly degrade all forms of criminality across the country.

Army Day 2026 Celebration to Feature African Land Forces Forum

Beyond recruitment, the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration theme is “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People.”Events run from June 26 through July 6. Reader’s Digest

The programme includes Juma’at prayers across all Army formations on June 26, interdenominational church services on June 28, and public speaking engagements in secondary schools on July 3. A grand finale on July 6 in Port Harcourt will feature a ceremonial parade, Chief of Army Staff Commendation Awards, a military equipment display, and a research and development exhibition. Reader’s Digest

Notably, the grand finale runs alongside the African Land Forces Forum 2026, themed “Securing Africa: Advanced Defense, United Efforts.” The forum brings together chiefs of African armies, senior military leaders, policymakers, defence industry representatives, and security experts — fostering regional cooperation and strategic dialogue across the continent. Reader’s Digest

Closing his address, Shaibu appealed directly to Nigerians for continued support.

“I urge all Nigerians to continue to support the Nigerian Army. This Army belongs to you. Let us all demonstrate patriotism and commitment to the ideals of peace and unity for national development,” he said.

For context on global military standards, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) tracks armed forces capacity across Africa. Nigeria’s peacekeeping contributions are also documented via the United Nations Peacekeeping portal.

[Internal link: “Nigerian Army Operations 2026: What the Military Has Achieved So Far” → /nigerian-army-operations-2026/]

Nigeria’s expansion signals clear intent — outpace insecurity with numbers, technology, and structure. With 28,000 new soldiers and a third training depot, the Army is not just growing. It is transforming.