Last month, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expressed concern over the persistently low enlistment of youths from the South-East geopolitical zone into the Nigerian Army.
Shaibu made this known during the passing-out parade of the pioneer batch of 90 regular recruits at the Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot, Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State.
DAILY POST reports that while youths in other parts of the country are fiercely competing for the limited slots in the Army, the Nigerian government is begging the South-East to fill theirs.
Shaibu noted that the recruitment quota allocated to the South-East had remained largely unfilled for several years, describing the trend as unacceptable.
The Army Chief, however, appealed to traditional rulers, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders in the region to encourage eligible young men and women to take advantage of the recruitment opportunities available in the Nigerian Army.
According to him, military service is not merely a career but an honourable calling that embodies patriotism, leadership and national service.
He said: “We ask for your continued support because military service is very demanding. Please stand by them, encourage them and pray for them.
“To our hosts, the Ndigbo, I humbly appeal to you to encourage your youths to take their rightful place in the defence of our fatherland.
“For some time now, the recruitment quota allocated to this zone has not been fully utilised. This should not continue. Military service is not just a career but an honourable endeavour of patriotism, leadership and national contribution.
“I, therefore, urge community leaders, parents, guardians and elders across the South-East to encourage our young men and women to regard this depot as their own and step forward to serve the nation.”
Nobody wants to join — Orji Kalu
Former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, had also raised concerns over the unwillingness of many from the South-East to join the country’s security agencies.
Kalu made the remarks during a recent interview with News Central TV while speaking about the state of the nation.
The Abia Senator said that in his area, people were often given application forms to join the Nigerian Army, Police and Air Force, but many remained unwilling to apply.
“I know in my area, they give me forms for people to join the Army; nobody wants to join. They give me forms for people to join the Police; nobody wants to join. They give me forms for people to join the Air Force; they will not want to apply,” Kalu said.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges are linked to issues such as hatred, tribalism and religious divisions among citizens.
Kalu said Nigerians, including those from the South-East, need to see themselves first as citizens of one country and work together to tackle insecurity.
He also described the armed forces as some of the best institutions in Nigeria, arguing that tribalism does not affect most of the personnel.
South-East will regret rejecting Army recruitment — Joe Igbokwe
Similarly, an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, warned that the South-East could face serious consequences in the future if young people in the region continued to show little interest in joining the Nigerian Army.
Reacting to reports that many recruitment slots allocated to the South-East remain unfilled while applicants from the North continue to fill their quotas in large numbers, Igbokwe described the situation as worrying.
“South-East will regret rejecting Nigerian Army recruitment, mark my words,” he said.
Igbos facing systematic marginalisation — Lawyer, Ejimakor
However, human rights lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor said the reluctance of Igbo youths to enlist in the Nigerian armed forces is not a deficit of valour but a calculated refusal to serve an institution they deeply mistrust.
The lawyer said this in a post on X after the Chief of Army Staff expressed concern over the persistently low enlistment of youths from the South-East geopolitical zone into the Nigerian Army.
Ejimakor pointed out that history and current happenings show that Igbo people face systematic marginalisation within an ethnically unbalanced leadership structure in Nigeria’s security services.
The lawyer also stated that the armed forces are repeatedly weaponised against Ndigbo in times of crisis.
“The trauma of the 1967 army massacres of Ndigbo in the North remains an unhealed wound, constantly reopened by modern atrocities targeting youths suspected of IPOB ties, such as the state-sanctioned violence at Nkpor, the Aba prayer ground, Obigbo, the Trump victory rally in Port Harcourt, and many others,” he said.
He further stated that the youths are deeply appalled by the integration of “repentant” Boko Haram terrorists into the military.
“To ask them to bleed under a biased command, alongside former terrorists, is a compromise of dignity they refuse to make.
“So, their reluctance to enlist is not cowardice. Instead, it is a quiet, powerful protest against an institution that has often betrayed Ndigbo,” Ejimakor said.
Why South-East youths don’t want to join Army
Amid reports that the Nigerian Army is struggling to attract enough applicants from the South-East for its recruitment exercise, DAILY POST spoke to some young South-easterners about why many youths in the region are reluctant to enlist.
Their responses varied, ranging from concerns over insecurity and poor welfare for soldiers to alleged discrimination, political interference and a general loss of confidence in the military.
‘I don’t want to die for politicians’
Speaking to DAILY POST on Tuesday, Chinedu Udemmezue, a trader from Anambra State, said he had nothing against the Nigerian Army.
According to him, he once wanted to join the military but changed his mind because of concerns over the safety of soldiers.
He said: “I have nothing against the Nigerian Army. In fact, when I was younger, I wanted to join. But today, I am no longer interested.
“My fear is simple: I don’t want to enter the Army and become a casualty of a war that politicians are not serious about ending. Look at the number of soldiers being killed in different parts of the country.
“Sometimes, you hear that soldiers were sent somewhere without adequate equipment or support. Then, when something happens, they will talk about sacrifice.
“Sacrifice is good, but there must be a reason to believe that your life is valued. I have a family. I cannot just volunteer to die because somebody in Abuja wants to score political points.”
‘There is a trust problem’
Ifeanyi Nwankwo, a graduate from Enugu State, said the major issue for him is trust.
He said young people may be reluctant to join an organisation where they believe opportunities and promotions are not always based on merit.
“You cannot tell young people to join an organisation when they believe that opportunities and promotions are not always based on merit.
“There has been this perception for years that people from the South-East are not treated fairly in some national institutions.
“Whether every allegation is true or not is another matter. But perception matters. If a young man believes that even after joining the Army, he may not get equal opportunities because of where he comes from, why would he rush to enlist?
“The government needs to address that perception. You cannot simply announce recruitment and expect people to forget everything they have heard or experienced,” he stated.
‘Army not the problem’
Chukwuebuka Eze, an undergraduate at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, said he actually wants to join the Army but faces opposition from his parents.
He said their major concern was the rising insecurity across the country.
“I actually want to join the Army. I have always admired the military. But my parents are against it because of insecurity.
“They keep asking me: ‘What will you gain if you are killed?’ That question is difficult to answer,” he said.
‘Why should I join when soldiers are poorly treated?’
Uche Madu, 27, a mechanic from Imo State, said he considered joining the Army after secondary school but changed his mind.
He said poor welfare for soldiers was one of the reasons for his decision.
“Go and ask the families of soldiers who died in the line of duty whether their relatives were properly taken care of. Sometimes, it appears the government remembers soldiers only when they need to send them into danger.
“If the salary, insurance, housing, healthcare and welfare are attractive, you will see more young people applying.
“If I can work here as a mechanic, run a business or travel abroad and potentially earn better money without carrying a gun into a dangerous place, why would I choose the military?” He asked.
‘Stop politicising the military’
Obinna Onwe, 29, a civil servant from Ebonyi State, identified alleged political interference as one of the major factors discouraging young people from joining the military.
“The biggest issue for me is political interference.
“The military should be a professional institution that serves Nigeria, not politicians. Once young people begin to believe that soldiers are being used to settle political scores or suppress particular communities, it affects recruitment.
“Look at the history of military intervention in Nigeria. Look at the various conflicts and how communities perceive the security agencies. These things create resentment.
“If the government genuinely wants youths from the South-East to join the military, it should rebuild confidence.
“You cannot use propaganda to convince people. Give them reasons to believe in the institution,” he advised.
‘We are still interested’
Kelechi Ugwu, 23, an undergraduate from Enugu State, disagreed with the suggestion that South-East youths have completely lost interest in joining the military.
He said he applied for Army recruitment because he wants to serve his country.
According to him, “I think it is wrong to say South-East youths have given up on Nigeria.
“I applied for Army recruitment because I want to serve my country. I disagree with those saying nobody from the South-East wants to join.
“But I understand why some people are afraid. Parents don’t want to lose their children. There are young men who have gone into security jobs and never returned.
“What the government should do is improve the conditions of service and make recruitment transparent. If people see that soldiers are respected and properly equipped, more youths will come.”
‘Government should ask questions, not blame us’
Onyemaechi Nwafor, 25, an entrepreneur from Anambra State, said the government should engage young people in the region instead of accusing them of abandoning the country.
“I don’t think the answer is to accuse South-Easterners of abandoning Nigeria.
“Ask the youths why they are not coming. Don’t just sit in Abuja and say they are not patriotic.
“Some are worried about discrimination. Some are afraid of insecurity. Some don’t trust the recruitment process, while others simply have better opportunities elsewhere.
“If the government wants more people from the region, it should engage them. Go to the universities, communities and youth organisations. Explain the opportunities. Address the complaints. Make them feel that they are wanted in the Nigerian Army.
“People will respond when they believe the country also values them,” he noted.
‘Don’t blame South-East, reform military’ — Analyst
Meanwhile, a political analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, has attributed the prroblem to poor remuneration, deplorable living conditions and the perceived mishandling of insecurity in the country.
Odo, who spoke with DAILY POST on Tuesday, said the government should reform the military and make the profession attractive to young people instead of blaming the region for its low recruitment figures.
He said available records showed that youths from the South-East were no longer applying for recruitment into the Nigerian Army in significant numbers.
According to him, South-East youths are highly ambitious and prefer career paths that offer opportunities to achieve their aspirations and attain globally competitive standards.
He said: “Joining the Nigerian Army would not fulfil their life ambitions. The youths of the region are one of the most ambitious in the world.
“They want a system that meets global standards. They want to attain greatness and become recognisable in their communities.
“The remuneration for soldiers is poor. They would do better if they went into trading and other businesses. So, poor salaries and low standards of living among soldiers discourage youths from joining the Army.”
Odo also criticised the condition of military barracks, saying the deplorable state of some facilities could discourage prospective recruits.
“Have you been to the barracks recently? You would think that nobody could live there. Tattered residences. This is similar to the police stations,” he said.
He expressed concern over the deaths of senior military officers in attacks by terrorists and bandits, arguing that the situation had weakened public confidence in the security system.
“Generals and officers die like birds in the hands of terrorists and so-called bandits. Yet, you see the government celebrating the repentance of terrorists. Who does that?” He queried.
Odo also called for a broader discussion on the under-representation of South-East youths in the Nigerian military, stressing that the issue goes beyond recruitment into the Army.
According to him, alleged difficulties faced by youths from the region in gaining admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) must also be addressed.
“When we talk about South-East youths not joining the Army, let’s be specific. They are talking about joining as recruits.
“We forgot decades of inability of South-East youths to enrol in the Nigerian Defence Academy. Those are the people who come out later to lead the military.
“Young people without generals as godfathers cannot enter the NDA even if they qualify,” he alleged.
He said the government should also examine the representation of South-East youths in other strategic federal institutions and agencies.
“Similarly, the military is not the only place they need to ask the youth to join. What about NNPC, Customs, Airport Authority and all the other juicy positions?” He asked.