Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged qualified indigenes to take advantage of new Nigerian Army formations in the state by applying for the ongoing 92 Regular Recruits Intake.
Makinde, represented by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, made the call during a sensitisation programme for indigenes and stakeholders at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The programme focused on the recruitment of tradesmen, non-tradesmen and women into the Nigerian Army.
New Army Formations in Oyo State
The governor listed the new military 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.
He said the formations would strengthen local security and support national defence operations.
Makinde described the recruitment sensitisation exercise as timely, given the security challenges posed by banditry. He said an organised institution such as the Nigerian Army was needed to tackle such threats effectively.
The governor also linked the recruitment drive to employment opportunities for young people.
He noted that although the state government had employed more than 23,000 workers in the civil and public service since 2019, many qualified youths remained unemployed.
Makinde thanked the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff for approving four additional formations for Oyo State.
He said military service offered young men and women meaningful employment and a defined career path. He also assured the army that the state government would widely publicise the recruitment exercise to encourage more applicants.
Army Gives Recruitment Deadline
The team lead, Brigadier General Olusegun Okungbure, said the sensitisation campaign was designed to encourage eligible youths to enlist in the Nigerian Army.
According to him, the 92 Regular Recruits Intake began on September 9, 2026, and would close on October 21, 2026. The exercise is open to qualified male and female indigenes of Oyo State.
Okungbure stressed that the application process was free and advised prospective applicants to apply only through the official Nigerian Army recruitment portal.
He explained that the latest campaign followed an earlier recruitment exercise ordered by the Chief of Army Staff after Oyo State recorded low application numbers.
Although the previous intervention increased applications, the state still failed to meet its allocated quota of successful candidates.
The army official urged youths across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas to regard military service as a call to national duty rather than merely a means of securing employment.
He listed national integration, foreign exposure, peacekeeping experience, improved welfare packages and access to quality medical care among the benefits of military service.
Traditional Ruler Urges Parents to Support Applicants
In his goodwill message, the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, encouraged parents to support their children and wards in applying for the recruitment exercise.
He also urged applicants to comply strictly with the entry requirements to improve the state’s chances of meeting its recruitment quota.
In his vote of thanks, the governor’s Executive Adviser on Security Coordination, retired Major General Lukman Omoniyi, commended Makinde for supporting security agencies.
Omoniyi urged community leaders and other stakeholders to spread the recruitment information across their communities to encourage a strong turnout.
The Nigerian Army recruitment exercise is scheduled to close on October 21, 2026. Interested applicants should confirm the eligibility criteria and submit their applications through the official recruitment portal.
