By Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
The passing-out parade of the pioneer batch of 90 regular recruits at the Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot, Amasiri-Edda, on Wednesday was more than a military ceremony. It marked the emergence of a strategic security institution in the South-East and reinforced Ebonyi State’s growing role in Nigeria’s defence architecture.
The event brought together top military officers, government officials, traditional rulers and residents, all united by a common message: strengthening national security requires collaboration between government, the military and local communities.
For the first time, the South-East is home to a primary Nigerian Army recruit training institution. Established on November 25, 2025, the Amasiri-Edda Depot is the third recruit training depot in the country after those in Zaria and Osogbo. Beyond training soldiers, the facility is expected to stimulate economic activities, improve infrastructure and deepen civil-military relations in Ebonyi State.
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru described the establishment of the depot as the fulfilment of a vision that has transformed a government land donation into a national security asset.
According to him, the institution will not only strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture but also create opportunities for socio-economic development and prosperity for Ebonyi people.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of the depot and providing the resources for its successful take-off, describing the project as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s security institutions.
The governor also commended the Nigerian Army leadership for choosing Ebonyi as the location of the training institution and assured the military of the state’s continued support.
As part of efforts to deepen that partnership, Nwifuru appealed to the Nigerian Army to release a portion of its 989.7 hectares of land in Abakaliki to enable the state government undertake effective and radial expansion of the capital city.
In return, he pledged that the Ebonyi State Government would complement the Army’s efforts by constructing critical infrastructure at the Amasiri-Edda Depot, including an emergency ward, main hospital and administrative block, maternity ward, morgue, recruit wards, walkways, a generator house, two solar-powered boreholes with 50,000-litre capacity each, and a theatre.
The governor also appealed for the speedy completion and equipping of the proposed Military Referral Hospital in Ebonyi, noting that the facility would improve access to specialised healthcare for residents of the state and the wider South-East region.
Congratulating the graduating recruits, Nwifuru urged them to remain disciplined, professional and patriotic throughout their military careers.
He reminded them that the oath they had taken demanded loyalty, integrity and selfless service to Nigeria above personal interests.
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, described the passing-out parade as a landmark event in the history of the Nigerian Army and the South-East.
He said the establishment of the Amasiri-Edda Depot demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting national cohesion, inclusiveness and balanced development while strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigerian Army.
According to him, the 90 pioneer recruits are part of the first batch of 14,000 personnel under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strategic force expansion initiative, which will eventually increase the Army’s strength by 28,000 recruits to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
Shaibu noted that the new depot would reduce training pressure on the existing recruit depots while producing a new generation of professionally trained soldiers equipped to confront terrorism, insurgency, banditry, separatist violence, organised crime and other emerging threats.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for his unwavering support towards the establishment of the institution, describing him as one of the founding fathers of the depot.
The Army Chief charged the newly enlisted soldiers to uphold professionalism, discipline, courage and respect for human rights in the discharge of their duties.
He also warned against the misuse of social media, stressing that the unauthorised publication of operational information, military activities or sensitive locations constitutes a serious breach of military regulations and could attract disciplinary action, including dismissal from service.
Shaibu further appealed to parents, traditional rulers, community leaders and stakeholders across the South-East to encourage more young people to embrace military service, lamenting that recruitment quotas allocated to the region have consistently remained underutilised.
He described military service as a noble profession that offers young Nigerians the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national unity, peace and development.
Beyond the colourful parade and military drills, the ceremony reflected a broader national aspiration to strengthen the Armed Forces while using strategic military institutions to promote development, integration and peace.
As the pioneer recruits begin their careers in various formations across the country, the Amasiri-Edda Recruit Training Depot stands as both a symbol of Nigeria’s expanding security capacity and a catalyst for the socio-economic transformation of Ebonyi State and the South-East.