The Nigerian Army has assured that the newly established military training depot in Ebonyi State will significantly enhance security and stimulate rapid socio-economic development across the state and the entire Southeast region.
The depot became possible following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision in mid-2025 to decentralise the Nigerian Army Training Depot in Kaduna, which had remained the country’s sole military training centre for decades. As part of the restructuring, a new depot was approved for the Southeast, with Amasiri and Amangwu communities in Afikpo and Edda Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State selected as its location.
A total of 618 hectares of land provided by the two neighbouring communities was officially handed over to the Nigerian Army on Tuesday evening by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. The ceremony was attended by top military officers, government officials and representatives of the host communities.
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Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Wayeed Shuaibu, the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, and Commander, Joint Task Force Southeast Operation Udoka, Major General Oluremi Fadeiro, said the training depot would bring immense economic and social benefits to Ebonyi State and the Southeast.
He explained that the establishment of the depot was primarily aimed at strengthening the security architecture of the state and the region, while also opening up opportunities for local development.
According to him, the first phase of the project will accommodate about 3,000 recruits, with plans to scale up the number to 7,000 trainees in subsequent intakes. He added that the Army would immediately commence development of the site.
Fadeiro disclosed that key facilities such as churches, a mosque, a mammy market and other essential infrastructure would be constructed within the depot, noting that surrounding local markets and services would also benefit from the increased population.
Governor Nwifuru, while formally handing over the land and title documents to the Nigerian Army, expressed optimism that the presence of the depot would help sustain peace in the host communities, particularly in view of past land-related disputes.
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He recalled that Amasiri and Amangwu Edda communities had experienced serious disagreements over the same land in the previous year, noting that allocating it to the military was a strategic step to entrench peace, order and respect for the rule of law.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising security under the People’s Charter of Needs agenda and pledged to decisively confront the activities of armed non-state actors in the state.
He described the training depot as a strategic security initiative that would not only strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigerian Army but also deepen civil-military relations and deliver economic benefits to the people of the Southeast.
Governor Nwifuru also urged the Nigerian Army to maintain professionalism and discipline in its engagement with the host communities to ensure mutual trust and cooperation.
