….Nwifuru Seeks Cantonment Land for Abakaliki Expansion
Date: 8 June, 2026
By Abraham Ovuoba
Abakaliki – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has issued a stern warning to newly enlisted soldiers against the unauthorised use of social media, declaring that any personnel found posting operational information, military installations, troop movements or other sensitive content online risk dismissal from the Nigerian Army.
The Army Chief gave the warning on Wednesday during the Passing Out Parade of 2,989 pioneer recruits at the Nigerian Army Training Depot, Amasiri-Edda, in Ebonyi State.
Shaibu expressed concern over the increasing misuse of social media by military personnel, stressing that discipline, professionalism and adherence to military regulations remain non-negotiable.
He reminded the recruits that the defence of Nigeria demands loyalty, sacrifice and absolute confidentiality, urging them to uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army throughout their careers.
According to him, the passing out of the pioneer intake represents a major milestone in the Federal Government’s strategic force expansion programme, aimed at strengthening the Army’s capacity to confront terrorism, insurgency, banditry, separatist violence, cyber threats and other emerging security challenges across the country.
The Army Chief disclosed that the 2,989 soldiers form part of the first batch of 14,000 recruits out of the 28,000 personnel approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reinforce the nation’s security architecture.
He noted that the establishment of the Amasiri-Edda Training Depot reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to national unity, equitable development and improved security, particularly in the South-East.
Commending the government and people of Ebonyi State for their support since the groundbreaking ceremony held on January 13, 2026, Shaibu assured that the Nigerian Army would continue reviewing its training curriculum to meet evolving operational demands.
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In his remarks, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State appealed to the Nigerian Army to release part of its 989.7-hectare land at the Abakaliki Military Cantonment to enable the planned expansion of the state capital.
The governor pledged that the state government would reciprocate by embarking on massive infrastructure projects at the Nigerian Army Training Depot in Amasiri-Edda.
He announced plans to construct an emergency ward, a main hospital, maternity ward, administrative block, mortuary, recruit wards, theatre, walkways, generator house and two solar-powered boreholes with 50,000-litre storage capacity each.
Nwifuru also applauded the Nigerian Army for establishing a Military Referral Hospital in Ebonyi State and appealed for its speedy completion to serve the South-East region.
He thanked President Tinubu for approving the establishment of the training depot and commended the Army leadership for transforming the donated land into a modern military training facility.
According to the governor, the depot has enhanced security, stimulated economic activities, accelerated infrastructure development and strengthened civil-military relations in the state.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining a peaceful environment for military operations and promoting cordial relationships between host communities and the Nigerian Army.
The colourful passing-out parade attracted representatives of the governors of Enugu, Imo, and Abia States, alongside senior military officers and other dignitaries from across the South-East.
