- Tinubu approves a new Nigerian Army depot in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
- Depot will train 7,000 soldiers in phases
- Aim is to strengthen security across all regions
- Nigeria now has three army depots nationwide
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a new Nigerian Army depot in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The development was disclosed on Saturday by the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter).
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According to Olusegun, the approval increases the number of army depots in Nigeria from one to three.
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“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new depot for the Nigerian Army in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. This brings the number of depots in Nigeria to three; Kaduna, Osogbo, and now Abakaliki,” he wrote.
In a video accompanying the announcement, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu, said the new depot is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the army’s capacity in response to security threats across the country.
“All these efforts are geared towards increasing the strength of the Nigerian Army. The reasons are clear, there are security challenges across every geopolitical zone in the country,” Shaibu said.
He revealed that 3,500 troops will be trained at the new Abakaliki depot, while another 3,500 soldiers are expected to arrive from Osogbo next week, bringing the total to 7,000 additional troops.
According to the Army Chief, the soldiers will undergo advanced infantry training before deployment to various operational areas.
“With these additional troops coming on board, they will receive advanced infantry training before deployment. This will increase our boots on the ground and improve our capacity to tackle security challenges,” he stated.
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Shaibu added that modern technology will play a key role in the training process.
“We are leveraging technology, including indoor shooting ranges, to improve marksmanship. When these soldiers move to the field, they will also receive specialist training to better prepare them for the tasks ahead,” he said.
The new depot is expected to significantly boost the Nigerian Army’s operational readiness and strengthen security efforts nationwide.
