The Nigerian Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to authorize the recruitment of 100,000 additional military personnel. The lawmakers argue that bolstering the armed forces is critical to addressing escalating insurgency, banditry, and a surge in school kidnappings across the country.
The call followed a heated debate led by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, during which he emphasized that the magnitude of insecurity in Nigeria demands a strategic expansion of the military. He also pointed out that such recruitment could provide employment opportunities for the nation’s youth.
In the same breath, Oshiomhole questioned accountability for the Safe School Programme, pressing for a Senate-led investigation into how funds allocated to protect schools are spent — particularly in light of recurring attacks.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio backed the proposal, underscoring the urgency of increasing troop strength and probing the Safe School funds. He stressed that security cannot be politicized and expressed condolences to the victims of the recent attack at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where a vice principal was killed and 25 students were abducted.
Despite Nigeria’s military strength — ranked 35th globally and third on the African continent — senators argue that current personnel numbers are insufficient given the severity of threats on the ground. They believe that supplementing the armed forces with new recruits and leveraging technology for surveillance could significantly enhance national security.
