The Nigerian Army has officially commenced the construction of its third national training depot at Amasiri-Edda, spanning the Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State. The project, initiated under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is designed to bolster national security and decentralize military training infrastructure.
The groundbreaking ceremony, led by the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. During the event, the Governor formally handed over 618 hectares of land to the military, expressing gratitude to the President and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for selecting the South-East region for this strategic investment.
Governor Nwifuru highlighted that the facility would significantly increase recruitment opportunities for youths in the South-East, an area that has historically sought greater representation within the Armed Forces. “This is a historic milestone and a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to fairness, equity, and national integration,” the Governor stated.
Representing the COAS, Major General Oluremi Fadairo—General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander of Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA—emphasized that the new depot is a response to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape. He noted that the facility would ensure a more equitable distribution of military assets and urged local youths to take full advantage of their recruitment quotas.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic laying of foundation blocks and the transfer of land titles to Major General V.U. Okoro, the Army’s Chief of Training.
The Amasiri-Edda facility joins the long-standing Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria (est. 1924) and the recently established Depot in Osogbo (est. 2025). Military officials expect the new hub to enhance the Army’s manpower development while serving as a catalyst for socio-economic growth and improved civil-military relations in the region.
