In a significant expansion of its training capacity, the Nigerian Army graduated 3,500 new soldiers on Saturday, December 20, 2025, marking the inaugural passing out parade for the newly established Depot Nigerian Army in Osogbo, Osun State. The ceremony underscores a strategic push to bolster military manpower amid persistent national security challenges.
The recruits, part of the 89 Regular Recruits intake, completed a rigorous six-month training program designed to transform civilians into disciplined soldiers. In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, highlighted the historic nature of the event, noting the recruits were the pioneer set trained at the Osogbo depot. “All principal staff officers from Army Headquarters graced this occasion,” he stated, signaling the high-level importance attached to the activation of this new training facility.
The expansion of training depots is a direct response to the country’s complex threat landscape. Gen. Shaibu explicitly linked the graduation to operational needs, stating, “The current threat landscape of the country has brought to the fore the need for increased recruitment towards a surge in military manpower strength.” Beyond Osogbo and the traditional depot in Zaria, he announced that a newly approved depot in Abakaliki would soon be operational, indicating a nationwide scaling of recruitment and training infrastructure to meet demand.
The Army Chief’s speech to the new soldiers was both congratulatory and sobering, acknowledging they were “joining the Army at a critical period.” He urged them to draw upon their training in moments of adversity, guided by the principle to “act with the hope for success and not the fear of failure.” This philosophy is crucial for soldiers likely to be deployed into counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, banditry hotspots in the Northwest, and other volatile regions.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who also addressed the ceremony, framed the military’s role in both national and local contexts. He praised the Army’s “track record of maintaining internal and external peace” but also issued a specific, localized request. The governor sought military assistance “to contain infiltration of bandits into Osun from Kwara,” revealing that security threats are not abstract national issues but have direct, cross-border implications for state stability. This appeal highlights the evolving nature of security challenges, where criminal elements exploit interstate boundaries.
The graduation of 3,500 soldiers from a single intake represents a substantial infusion of personnel. For context, previous intakes often numbered in the low thousands across all depots. This Osogbo cohort alone signifies a marked increase in throughput. However, experts note that the true test lies beyond the parade ground. The effectiveness of this manpower surge will depend on continued advanced training, adequate equipment provisioning, logistical support, and leadership in theatre. The transformation from a recruit to an effective combat soldier is an ongoing process that extends well past basic training.
Ultimately, the historic parade in Osogbo is more than a ceremonial milestone; it is a tangible manifestation of the Nigerian Army’s structural response to insecurity. By decentralizing and expanding its training footprint to Osogbo and soon Abakaliki, the military is building the institutional capacity for a sustained manpower build-up. The success of this strategy will be measured not in parade precision, but in the enhanced security and stability the new soldiers will help achieve across Nigeria’s troubled regions in the years to come.
Report by Olajide Idowu for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Victor Adeoti.
