By Ngozi Okeibunor.
With Edo State’s recruitment quota hanging in the balance, Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo has stepped in with an urgent intervention after it emerged that only 291 applicants from the state have signed up for the ongoing Nigerian Army recruitment exercise, a figure that trails both the national target and the state’s projected allocation.
The alarming disparity came to light on Wednesday when a delegation from the Nigerian Army visited the Government House, Benin City, as part of a nationwide sensitization campaign. While the army has received approximately 38,000 applications nationally for about 14,000 available positions in the 91 Regular Recruitment Intake, Edo’s paltry 291 applicants fall significantly below the expected 300–400 recruits per state.
Faced with the real possibility of Edo losing its quota to more responsive states, Governor Okpebholo immediately activated a multi-pronged rescue plan. He granted the army access to the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) for mass mobilization and vowed to personally task local government chairmen with taking the recruitment drive to the grassroots.
“Yesterday, I received your letter very late. When I went through it, I saw your request to create awareness, which we are already doing,” the governor told the delegation. “I will be meeting with the local government chairmen and will direct them to spread the information across all local government areas. It is important that we meet up with our quota. We are going to take this seriously to ensure our people are aware.”
In a further move to safeguard the state’s chances, Governor Okpebholo appealed to the army leadership to consider extending the May 17 deadline, citing limited internet access in rural communities that may have hindered awareness.
“I will also beg you to extend the time. There are many people in communities without internet access who may not be aware of this opportunity,” he explained.
Brigadier General M. U. Ikobah, who led the army delegation, confirmed that Edo’s current application figure falls below expectations. However, he commended the Governor’s proactive stance, expressing optimism that the intervention would reverse the trend before the window closes.
The urgency of the quota threat was further underscored as the sensitization drive moved to the New Festival Hall of the Government House, where over 300 youths were directly addressed and charged to become grassroots ambassadors for the recruitment push.
Also present at the meeting were Brigadier General A. O. Balogun (Commander, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City); Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq.; Chief of Staff, Hon. Yakubu Musa; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua; and Commissioner for Public Security and Safety, Hon. Ebea Festus Odianosen.
With the clock ticking toward May 17, Governor Okpebholo’s intervention represents a last-mile effort to rescue Edo’s quota from being ceded, and to transform a disappointing 291 into a figure that matches the state’s potential.
