The Nigerian Army’s concern over the low number of recruits from the South-East is understandable. However, any meaningful response must go beyond general appeals and address the deeper issues influencing this trend. The reluctance of young people from the region cannot be solved by awareness campaigns alone—it is rooted in real-life experiences and perceptions.
Recent figures cited by Brigadier-General Uche Nnabuihe, showing only 117 applications from Anambra out of about 38,000 nationwide, go beyond statistics. They reflect a growing trust deficit and a serious concern about credibility.
While the Army has responded with sensitisation efforts and assurances of career benefits, the core issue is not a lack of information. Rather, it is a lack of confidence in the institution itself.
Across the country, there have long been complaints about the welfare of soldiers on active duty. Many reports point to poor living conditions, insufficient equipment, delayed payments, and inadequate support for personnel confronting armed groups. Families of deceased soldiers often speak more of neglect than of honour. In some cases, personnel who voice concerns reportedly face punishment instead of support.
Young Nigerians are observing these realities closely. Their decisions are increasingly shaped by how those already in service are treated. Naturally, this raises a difficult question: why join an institution where those on the frontlines often feel neglected and undervalued?
In the South-East, the situation is even more complex due to historical and ongoing security operations in the region. Over the years, military presence there has been linked in public perception to allegations of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and human rights abuses. For many families, these experiences are not distant claims but personal memories.
Against this backdrop, it becomes harder for young people to willingly enlist in the same institution they associate with fear or oppression rather than protection.
Ultimately, trust in public institutions cannot be built through recruitment drives alone. It requires accountability, fairness, and respect for human rights.
If the Army truly wants to improve recruitment from the South-East, it must look inward. Improving the welfare of serving personnel, ensuring proper equipment and support, and creating safe channels for grievances without retaliation are essential steps.
Beyond that, there is also a need to rethink how security challenges in the South-East are addressed. Military action alone cannot resolve issues rooted in political, social, and economic grievances. Long-standing concerns about exclusion, marginalisation, and lack of development require dialogue and inclusive governance. Force, without balance, risks deepening resentment.
While the Army has highlighted the benefits of service—such as career progression, healthcare, pensions, and exposure—these promises struggle to outweigh what young people see and hear from those already serving.
Rebuilding trust will take time. It will require transparency in operations, accountability for misconduct, and genuine commitment to the dignity of both soldiers and civilians. It also calls for a broader national reflection on the role of the military in a democracy.
Until these issues are addressed, the question will not simply be why South-East youths are avoiding enlistment. The more important question is what has been done to earn their trust in the first place.
Without honest answers and real reforms, the numbers are unlikely to change.
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