A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has attributed the low number of Southeast youths enlisting in the Nigerian Army to longstanding regional marginalisation.
The Nigerian Army has expressed concern over the Southeast’s ability to fill its recruitment quota, with only 200 youths registering for the 2025 intake, compared to over 4,000 from other regions.
In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng on Thursday, April 24, Ichie Damian Okeke Ogene, former Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said the low turnout stems from years of marginalisation.
“Igbo people are treated in this country as if they do not belong to one Nigeria,” Ogene stated. “Is it not more surprising also that out of the entire service chiefs in Nigeria, they do not manage to put even one Igbo man there?”
He noted that Igbo youths have lost trust in federal institutions. “It will take a long time to change this perception, unless the Nigerian government decides to take action against marginalisation of the southeast,” he added.
Ohanaeze pledged to intensify advocacy to encourage qualified youths to join the armed forces.