The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed profound appreciation to the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for approving four additional Army formations for the state.
Governor Makinde, represented by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, gave the commendation at a public sensitisation programme for indigenes and stakeholders on the ongoing 92 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) for Trades/Non-Tradesmen and Women, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
He listed the new formations as a brigade and battalion in Oyo Town, an infantry battalion in Kishi, a newly approved artillery regiment battalion in Iseyin, and another battalion in Oriire.
The governor noted that the formations were not only strategic for local security but were also capable of launching national defence and attack operations.
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Describing the sensitisation campaign as timely and critical in light of recent banditry challenges, Makinde said only an organised and identifiable institution like the Nigerian Army could confront such threats effectively.
He linked the recruitment drive to job creation, noting that despite employing more than 23,000 workers in the civil and public service since 2019, thousands of qualified youths remained unemployed. He stressed that the Army provides young men and women with meaningful employment and a clear career path.
Makinde assured them that the state government would widely disseminate information on the recruitment exercise and expressed confidence that Oyo youths would enlist in large numbers.
He urged qualified indigenes to seize the opportunity and appealed to the public to help circulate the information across all communities.
The Team Lead of the 92 Regular Recruits Intake, Brigadier General Olusegun Okungbure, said the sensitisation programme aimed to encourage able-bodied youths to enlist.
He disclosed that the recruitment exercise began on September 9, 2026, would run until October 21, 2026, and was open to qualified male and female indigenes of Oyo State.
Brig-Gen Okungbure emphasised that the application was free and urged prospective applicants to use only the official Nigerian Army recruitment portal.
The Team Lead explained that the current drive followed an earlier exercise ordered by the COAS due to low turnout from Oyo State, saying that although the effort improved application numbers, the state still fell short of its allotted quota of successful candidates.
He called on youths across the 33 Local Government Areas to view joining the Nigerian Army as a noble call to national service, not merely a source of job security.
