Governor Monday Okpebholo has taken urgent steps to address the low turnout of applicants from Edo State in the ongoing Nigerian Army recruitment exercise, following reports that only 291 candidates have applied for an expected quota of 300 to 400.
The governor, on Wednesday, received an Army delegation at the Government House in Benin City, where he officially launched a statewide sensitisation campaign aimed at boosting awareness and participation.
The initiative is part of the nationwide drive for the 91 Regular Recruitment Intake, which began on March 30 and is scheduled to close on May 17. While approximately 38,000 applications have been recorded across the country, Edo’s figures remain significantly below target.
Speaking during the meeting, Okpebholo revealed that his administration had already commenced awareness efforts but would now intensify outreach across all local government areas. He also pledged to leverage the state-owned media platform, Edo Broadcasting Service, to amplify the campaign.
According to him, local government chairmen will be mobilised to spread information at the grassroots level to ensure wider reach and improved participation.
The governor further appealed to the Army authorities to consider extending the application deadline, citing challenges faced by youths in rural communities who lack internet access and may be unaware of the opportunity.
Leading the Army delegation, M. U. Ikobah commended the governor’s proactive stance, noting that the Army plans to recruit about 14,000 personnel nationwide—translating to an estimated 300 to 400 slots per state.
Other top officials present at the meeting included A. O. Balogun and key members of the Edo State Executive Council.
Following the discussions, the sensitisation campaign moved to the New Festival Hall within the Government House, where more than 300 youths were addressed and encouraged to share information about the recruitment drive within their communities.
The Nigerian Army conducts periodic nationwide recruitment exercises to strengthen its workforce, particularly as rising security challenges across regions such as the North-East and North-West continue to stretch military resources.
