To strengthen national security architecture, expand training capacity, promote regional balance and strengthen manpower development within the Nigerian Army, a new military depot has been established in Ebonyi State for the South East zone.

The establishment of the training depot was approved by President Bola Tinubu last year. The project symbolizes progress, partnership and a shared commitment to a safer and more prosperous future of the country

The new depot brings the total number of Nigerian Army depots in the country to three after the pioneer Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, in Kaduna State, established in 1924 and Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo, Osun State, which was established in 2025.

Nigerian Army Training Depot (NATD) is the foundation of military professionalism in Nigeria. It is where civilians are transformed into disciplined soldiers through rigorous physical training, weapon handling, military drills and character development.

A vast land between Amasiri and Amangwu Edda communities in Afikpo and Edda local government areas of Ebonyi State measuring 618 hectares was approved for the establishment of the military training depot for the South East.

The training depot is expected to mark the beginning of a transformative journey that will transform the military capacity, enhance the armed forces’ operational efficiency and contribute meaningfully to the security and development of the nation.

It was historic last week during the groundbreaking ceremony of the South East army training depot, which attracted people from all walks of life, especially military and government officials.

The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by Governor Francis Nwifuru. The ceremony featured the formal handover of land documents by Nwifuru to the Nigerian Army.

The documents were received on behalf of the COAS by the Chief of Training (Army), Major General V.U. Okoro, which was followed by the symbolic laying of foundation blocks by the governor and the COAS representative.

In his remarks, the governor expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Wayeed Shaibu, for approving the establishment of the training depot in the state.

He noted that the facility would enhance recruitment opportunities and promote increased participation of youths from the state and South East region in serving their fatherland through the Nigerian Army.

He further highlighted the institution’s meaningful contributions to peace, security and the socio-economic development of the state. He also expressed the hope that the depot would help to maintain peace in the host communities.

“We had very terrible disagreement between the people of Amasiri/Amangwu Edda last year on the same land. The essence of giving this land to the military is to maintain peace and to maintain rule of law and to maintain order,” the governor said.

He assured the service that his administration will continue to prioritize the security of the people and announced his administration’s readiness to decimate the influences of armed non-state actors in the state.

“Security is critically prioritized by the People’s Charter of Needs Agenda, a sociopolitical compass that guides our administration.

“I am here today to formally hand over the title documents of the land to the Nigerian Army. It is a strategic initiative and will complement other efforts to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Army.

“The South East region is in dire need of security and this will also have economic benefits for our people. It will also increase civil-military relations,” he said.

Nwifuru enjoined the army to ensure professionalism and discipline in their dealings with the host communities.

Representing the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, and Commander Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udo Ka, Maj. Gen. Oluremi Fadairo, commended the host communities for their cooperation. He stated that the establishment of the additional training depot aligns with the vision of the President and Commander-in-Chief to ensure equitable distribution of military infrastructure and inclusive national representation within the armed forces.

He emphasized that the depot would provide increased opportunities for youths in the South-East to enlist in the Nigerian Army and serve the nation with pride.

Fadairo further urged the people of the South East region to leverage the opportunity by actively filling their recruitment quota in the Nigerian Army, stressing that equal opportunities are available to all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He reiterated that contemporary security challenges required sustained collaboration between the military and host communities, assuring them that the Nigerian Army Training Depot, Amasiri-Edda, would serve as a catalyst for stability, development and strengthened civil-military relations in the region. He said the purpose of approving the depot was to improve security network in the state and entire South East.

Gen. Shaibu disclosed that about 3,000 recruits will be coming to the depot for training and the number of the recruits that will be trained after the first set will increase to 7,000. He added that many facilities, including churches, mosque, markets and other infrastructure will be built in the depot: “The soldiers that will be trained here are already training somewhere and it is hoped that when they are passing out, they are going to pass out on this piece of land. So, work will commence on this land immediately.

“The socioeconomic development this will bring to this community, this entire state, is quite enormous and we are looking at improving security network within the state also.

“From start, we are almost about 3,000 recruit that will be coming here and from time to time the army will continue to increase the number. You can imagine almost about 7,000 on this piece of land over a time, including their families.

“We are building churches here, a mosque, mammy market, and all other infrastructure known in the army. And, also, we will be making use of the markets around and so many facilities around this place.”

Before the handover of the land, an elderly man from Poperi, Amasiri, Chief Chukwu Agha, who prayed traditionally during the event, appealed to the government to compensate the community for the land used for the project. He said the large land serves as means of survival of the people through agricultural activities.

“This land is what has been feeding us. We have been cultivating on this land for decades and it is the only means of our livelihood.

“We are requesting that we should be remembered for losing this land, we should be remembered o”, he appealed during the traditional prayer.

But Nwifuru, while entertaining questions from journalists at the event, said there are no economic trees or any infrastructure on the land that will require government compensation.

“The land belongs to government and the governor is the owner of the land and he is the holder and he takes compensation to where there is infrastructure or economic trees.

“You can show me the economic trees here and the infrastructure, then you now request for compensation. Law is for everybody. So, if there is any economic tree you are seeing here, if there is any infrastructure you are seeing on this land, then you can now raise that issue and then I will answer your question,” Nwifuru said.

The governor said the establishment of the military training depot in the two communities would foster peace.

“This land will bring peace because that’s the essence of it. Nigerian Army is known for maintaining law and order and we have that confidence that their presence here will bring an end to those clashes and nobody will be in that trouble again,” he said. (The Sun)

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