President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new Nigerian Army depot in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, in a move aimed at boosting security operations and expanding the Army’s training capacity across Nigeria.
The approval increases the number of Nigerian Army depots in the country to three, alongside the long-standing facilities located in Kaduna and Osogbo.
The development was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, the Abakaliki depot represents a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s military infrastructure.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new depot for the Nigerian Army in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. This development raises the number of Army depots in Nigeria from one to three: Kaduna, Osogbo, and now Abakaliki,” Olusegun stated.
In a related video, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, explained that the decision aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to address security challenges across all geopolitical zones.
According to the Army Chief, the Ebonyi Army depot will immediately train 3,500 new troops, with another 3,500 personnel expected from the Osogbo depot, bringing the total to 7,000 additional soldiers.
These troops will undergo advanced infantry training before being deployed to various operational areas across the country.
Shaibu said the training programme will incorporate modern military technology, including indoor shooting ranges, to improve marksmanship, tactical efficiency, and overall operational readiness.
“All these efforts are geared towards increasing the strength of the Nigerian Army. With the security challenges across the country, it is important that our troops are well trained, well equipped, and technologically prepared,” he said
The establishment of a Nigerian Army depot in Ebonyi State is expected to significantly enhance military presence in the South-East, improve rapid deployment, and strengthen inter-agency security collaboration.
The announcement comes shortly after the Chief of Army Staff briefed President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on the state of national security, following his visit to the North-East theatre of operations.
Shaibu described ongoing military operations nationwide as “satisfactory”, noting improved coordination among security agencies and sustained pressure on criminal networks.
President Tinubu’s approval of the Ebonyi Army depot underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the Nigerian Army, increasing troop strength, and ensuring improved security across Nigeria.
The Army leadership has assured Nigerians that these measures will translate into enhanced security, faster response to threats, and improved safety nationwide in the coming weeks.
