The Nigerian Army has announced plans to recruit 13,000 new personnel before the end of 2025, despite facing mounting operational and infrastructural challenges due to limited funding.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Senate Committee on Army to the Army Headquarters in Abuja. He expressed concern over the growing pressure on the military’s infrastructure, especially the lack of accommodation for soldiers.
“This year alone, we are expecting about 13,000 new personnel, but there are no corresponding resources to provide accommodation for them. We still have soldiers without adequate housing, and that number will continue to grow,” Oluyede stated.
The Army Chief criticized the current envelope budgeting system, describing it as grossly inadequate for the operational and welfare needs of the armed forces. He urged lawmakers to push for special funding mechanisms tailored to the unique needs of the military.
“We’re not just facing internal security challenges. We must also prepare for potential external threats. It is crucial that we get special funds to provide accommodation and other necessary support systems for our soldiers,” he added.
In response, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, acknowledged the Army’s funding constraints and pledged the committee’s commitment to advocating for increased budgetary allocation.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces should be removed from the envelope budgeting system. What we’ve seen during our oversight visits makes it clear that the Army requires more flexible and sufficient funding to fulfill its constitutional mandate,” Yar’Adua said.
The committee, which had earlier visited army formations in Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Lagos states, noted progress in many projects but also raised concerns about others due to funding gaps.
Yar’Adua assured the Army leadership of sustained legislative support and revealed that another round of oversight will be conducted before the year ends to evaluate the implementation of the 2025 Appropriations Act.
The Army’s appeal for special funding comes amid ongoing internal security operations and heightened concerns about the nation’s preparedness for potential external threats.
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