Rivers State, a home and boundaries to Niger Delta militants is becoming an issue of special concern to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya over the residents and indigenous people of the state unwillingness to enlist into the Nigerian Army.
Information from the Nigerian Army Public Relations Department during the week indicated that the Army authorities visited the state government to urge the people of Rivers State to subscribe massively to the Nigerian Army 84 Regular Recruit Intake, RRI, currently ongoing.
The statement from the Press Unit of the Nigerian Army made available on Saturday reads thus:
The Director, Manpower Planning at the Army Headquarters Department of Administration, Major General Ibrahim Jallo, made the call when he led a delegation to the Secretary to the State Government, Rivers State, Mr Tammy Danagogo.
Major General Jallo stated that, visit to the state government was sequel to the instructions of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya’s concern that Rivers State was unable to fill it’s recruitment quota into the Nigerian Army.
A situation the COAS observed if not immediately addressed, Rivers State would be shortchanged in their entitlement for even representation in the Nigerian Army.
Speaking further, Major General jallo disclosed it is the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to subscribe to the Nigerian Army; adding that recruitment into the Nigerian Army is in compliance with stipulated Federal Character requirement.
Having observed a decline in the number of applications from Rivers State in the last 3 recruitment exercises, the situation the director pointed out necessitated the engagement of the State Government for the sensitization of it’s indigenes on the correct process to subscribing to fill it’s allotted quota.
Major General Ibrahim Jallo informed the Secretary to the State Government of the ongoing 84 Regular Recruit Intake which started on the 10 October 2022 and would end on the 2 December 2022. The application he added was free of charge courtesy of the magnanimity of the COAS, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya. He subsequently presented fliers to the the SSG to aid prospective applicants.
In his response, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tammy Danagogo stated that he was appalled at the revelation that Rivers State has not been subscribing to it’s allocated quota into the Nigerian Army in accordance with the requirements of Federal Character.
He said the action of the COAS in directing the engagement with the Rivers State Government showed the love COAS has for Rivers State and it’s indigenes.
The SSG assured the delegation that effort would not be spared at ensuring that Rivers State indigenes subscribe massively to the ongoing 84 RRI recruitment process.
The SSG appreciated the team for the visit and thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the sensitization.
