FG Directs Army to Commence Mass Recruitment

Following some of the resolutions made at the National Security Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the Federal Government has given the armed forces and other security agencies the nod to embark on mass recruitment.


An officer in the Nigeria army, who spoke on condition of anonymity made this known on Sunday in Abuja.
He explained that the move was to enhance the fight against terrorism in the country, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan gave the  directive for more recruitment into the army in March after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Kenneth Minimah, had briefed him about the operations of the army.
The source said the army did not  begin  the recruitment immediately because they needed to expand training facilities in parts of the country.
He revealed that because of  Boko Haram and other security challenges in the country, the army would commence the recruitment in May 2014, adding that they (army) would now be recruiting twice a year unlike in the past when it was once.
"It is true that recruitment has to be beefed up. The Federal Government has granted that request but recruitment is not just the number" the source said. "You must note that you cannot produce a soldier in three days or  weeks; this is a  serious business involving the requisite facilities for training".
"If you want to raise your recruitment for instance, from 1,000 recruits to 2, 000 per annum, you must increase the facilities for their training.
"And I can tell you that it takes time for you to increase such facilities. You see, the issue is that the country has neglected the Army for so long; several public commentators have questioned why public funds should be spent to maintain a large army when there is no war. But is it wise for you to start screaming where are the soldiers when you did not make arrangement for training just because there is a threat now?
"For you to increase the number of those being recruited, you have to increase the structures for recruitment because as you are recruiting, you are training" the source said.
He pointed out that the structures on the ground can only accommodate a particular number of recruits.
Meanwhile, the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, on Sunday, said that the military was satisfied with the ongoing operations against insurgents in Borno State.
He made the assertion during an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a media tour of military operations in Maiduguri.
According to him, the troops had been able to sustain momentum in terms of the offensive against the terrorists.
"The bases we visited are part of the responses to the terrorist offensive and that is an achievement; the military had moved close to where the insurgents are" he said.
Olukolade further stated that the soldiers were highly motivated, and expressed believes that they would see more successes from the troops.