The Nigerian Army has assured that the newly established military training depot in Ebonyi State will significantly enhance security and encourage rapid socio-economic development in the state and the entire Southeast region.
The depot became possible following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's decision to decentralize the Nigerian Army Training Depot in Kaduna in mid-2025, which had remained the country's sole military training center for decades. As part of the restructuring, a new depot for the Southeast was approved, with Amasiri and Amangwu communities in Afikpo and Edda local government areas of Ebonyi State chosen as its location.
A total of 618 hectares of land provided by the two neighboring communities was officially handed over to the Nigerian Army by Governor Francis Ogbonna Enwifuru on Tuesday evening. The ceremony was attended by top military officials, government officials and representatives of the host communities.
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Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waide Shuebu, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force Southeast Operation Udoka, Major General Oluremi Fadeiro, said the training depot will bring immense economic and social benefits to Ebonyi State and the Southeast.
He explained that the purpose of setting up the depot was primarily to strengthen the security architecture of the state and the region, while also opening up opportunities for local development.
According to him, around 3,000 recruits will be inducted in the first phase of the project, with plans to increase this number to 7,000 trainees in subsequent recruitments. He said the Army would immediately start developing the site.
Fedeiro revealed that major facilities such as churches, a mosque, a mammy market and other essential infrastructure would be built within the depot, noting that nearby local markets and services would also benefit from the growing population.
Governor Enwifuru, while formally handing over the land and ownership documents to the Nigerian Army, expressed optimism that the presence of the depot will help maintain peace in the host communities, especially in view of past land disputes.
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He recalled that the Amasiri and Amangwu Edda communities had experienced serious disagreements over the same land last year, noting that allocating it to the military was a strategic move to establish peace, order and respect for the rule of law.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration's commitment to prioritizing security under the People's Charter of Needs Agenda and pledged to decisively counter the activities of armed non-state actors in the state.
He described the training depot as a strategic security initiative that will not only strengthen the operational capability of the Nigerian Army but also deepen civil-military relations and bring economic benefits to the people of the Southeast.
Governor Enwifuru also urged the Nigerian Army to maintain professionalism and discipline in its engagement with host communities to ensure mutual trust and cooperation.
