The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, has charged newly enlisted soldiers of the Nigerian Army to uphold the highest standards of discipline, loyalty, professionalism, and patriotism as they begin their military careers.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 90 Regular Recruit Intake at the Depot Nigerian Army, Chindit Cantonment, Zaria, Kaduna State, on Saturday, the Army Chief said the recruits were graduating at a critical period in Nigeria’s security history.
According to him, 6,001 recruits commenced training at the institution six months ago, while 5,876 successfully completed the rigorous programme and participated in the passing-out parade.
Lt. Gen. Shuaibu described the occasion as a significant milestone in the lives of the recruits, noting that it marked the beginning of a journey of sacrifice, dedication, resilience, and commitment to national service.
“Today is a special day in the lives of the members of the 90 Regular Recruit Intake as it marks the beginning of a journey of sacrifice, patriotism, dedication and commitment to the service of our dear nation,” he said.
He commended the recruits for their resilience and determination throughout the demanding training process and urged them to maintain the spirit of excellence and uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army.
The COAS stated that the passing-out recruits constitute the first batch of the 28,000 personnel approved for recruitment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the declaration of a state of emergency on national security aimed at addressing the country’s diverse security challenges.
He explained that the three training depots located in Zaria, Kano, and Osogbo are expected to collectively produce 14,000 recruits in two streams, representing a significant increase from the previous annual output of 12,000 personnel.
According to him, the expanded recruitment exercise reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the Nigerian Army’s manpower and operational capacity in the fight against insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, separatist violence, and other forms of criminality.
Shuaibu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for supporting efforts to improve the Army’s combat readiness through increased recruitment and training.
He noted that the newly graduated soldiers had acquired essential military competencies required to contribute effectively to ongoing operations across various theatres, adding that the additional manpower would boost operational effectiveness and provide relief to troops currently deployed in challenging environments.
“The enhanced manpower of the Nigerian Army will increase our capacity to dominate the battlespace, protect communities and deny criminal elements the freedom to operate,” he said.
The Army Chief revealed that the recruits were trained under a revised curriculum that places greater emphasis on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, marksmanship proficiency, and the application of emerging technologies in modern warfare.
He described the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, established in 1924, as Nigeria’s premier military training institution, noting that it has consistently met the human resource needs of the Nigerian Army for over a century.
The COAS assured that his administration would continue to prioritize personnel welfare, infrastructure development, manpower strengthening, and improved training facilities at the institution.
Lt. Gen. Shuaibu also cautioned the newly enlisted soldiers against the misuse of social media, warning that unauthorized disclosure of operational information, military activities, and sensitive locations could attract severe disciplinary sanctions, including dismissal from service.
He emphasized that violations of social media regulations could undermine operational security, military discipline, and the credibility of the Army.
The Army Chief further urged the soldiers to respect human rights and strictly adhere to rules of engagement during operations.
Reminding them of the oath of allegiance they had taken, he said they were now subject to both military and civilian laws and must avoid any conduct capable of bringing the Nigerian Army and the nation into disrepute.
“I challenge you to serve with honour, dignity and unwavering loyalty to the nation, while maintaining the highest standards of conduct expected of soldiers of the Nigerian Army,” he stated.
Shuaibu also acknowledged the support of traditional rulers, government officials, security agencies, military institutions, instructors, and staff of the Depot Nigerian Army for their contributions to the successful training of the recruits.
He particularly thanked the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Kaduna State Government, and other stakeholders for their continued support to the institution.
The Army Chief commended the commandant, instructors, and staff of the Depot Nigerian Army for producing another set of professional soldiers and urged them to sustain efforts aimed at improving training standards.
He congratulated the graduating recruits and their families, describing the successful completion of the training programme as a testament to hard work, discipline, and commitment to national service.
