The Lagos State Government has announced plans to enlist at least 250 indigenes into the ongoing 90 Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) of the Nigerian Army, as part of efforts to strengthen youth participation in national service.
EpeInsights reports that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, made this known in Ikeja while urging local council chairmen across the state to mobilise residents to take advantage of the recruitment exercise.
According to her, the initiative aligns with the state’s commitment to ensure Lagosians are adequately represented in the nation’s armed forces — an area where the state has historically recorded low participation.
“The local council chairmen are the number one citizens in their councils and should be able to identify indigenes, advocate, and sensitise the people,” she said.
“They should help our young people understand the importance of joining the military. In the past, Lagos has been shortchanged, not just by the Federal Government, but also by Lagosians themselves, who have not viewed the military as a viable career path.”
Describing the armed forces as a noble and honourable profession, the SSG appealed to parents to encourage their children to consider careers in the military, noting that Lagos society’s preference for professions such as law and business has contributed to low enlistment rates among indigenes.
“We love enjoyment in Lagos State,” she remarked. “People celebrate when their children study law but not when they join the military. Meanwhile, in the North, they understand there can be no power without security.”
Salu-Hundeyin explained that the government’s recruitment target of 250 indigenes was not merely symbolic but a necessity to ensure equal representation in national service.
“If we fail to meet our quota, other states will take it up,” she warned. “Our children are good enough for the job.”
She also revealed that the government is encouraging Lagos indigenes to apply to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
In addition to the Army recruitment, she disclosed that the Nigerian Navy has requested 50 Lagos indigenes for enlistment — a call the state is also preparing to meet.
Salu-Hundeyin urged parents to change their perception of military service, stressing that Lagos cannot continue to depend solely on others for national defence.
“We don’t want our children in the military, yet we want protection — that’s impossible,” she said. “We must have our own people serving.”
The move is part of the state’s wider youth empowerment and civic inclusion agenda, aimed at creating new opportunities for young Lagosians while strengthening national security.
