Senate Urges President Tinubu to Approve 100,000 Military Recruitment to Confront Insecurity
- The Nigerian Senate has urged President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 new military personnel to confront rising insecurity
- Lawmakers also demanded a probe into the Safe School Programme, questioning how funds were spent amid repeated school attacks
- Their debate followed the deadly assault on Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed a vice principal and abducted 25 students
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday called on President Bola Tinubu to approve the recruitment of 100,000 new military personnel to tackle insurgency, banditry and the growing wave of school abductions across the country.
Lawmakers also demanded a full investigation into the Safe School Programme, questioning how funds allocated to the initiative were spent despite repeated attacks on educational institutions.
Source: Twitter
Their concerns followed the attack on Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen reportedly killed a vice principal and abducted 25 students.
Oshiomhole pushes for security audit and expansion
The debate was triggered by additional prayers raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during plenary, which led to a heated session on Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
Oshiomhole, while leading the call for massive recruitment and a security audit, warned that the scale of insecurity required a strategic expansion of the armed forces.
He said:
“I urge the President and the armed forces to recruit an additional 100,000 military personnel so we can have enough men and women in our troops. It is also another way to create employment for our youthful population.”
The senator also demanded answers on the Safe School funds.
“People have turned our security into a business. We should not monetise the death of our people by those living. What happened to the money earmarked for the Safe School Programme?”
He pressed further for a Senate-led probe and enhanced technological capacity for security agencies.
“Again, I urge the FG and the relevant Senate committees to probe the funds appropriated for the Safe School Programme. I call on the military to deploy the use of technology and tracking devices to be able to track these criminals,” he urged.
His additional prayer was unanimously seconded and adopted by lawmakers across party lines.
Akpabio endorses recruitment and probe
Reacting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed the call for 100,000 new troops and supported the probe of the Safe School Programme.
“We urge the Federal Government and the Senate committee to probe the spending. Unfortunately, these criminals are going after soft targets,” Akpabio said.
He cautioned against politicising insecurity and offered condolences to the victims of the Maga school attack.
“But crime is crime. It doesn’t matter under which administration it takes place. Even the almighty America has crime daily. All lives matter. May the souls of our fellow Nigerians and the vice principal who died in the course of protecting the students rest in peace.”
Safe schools declaration and UNICEF’s call
Despite adopting the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, Nigeria has continued to suffer a decade-long pattern of attacks on schools. The policy, endorsed by the Federal Government, outlines measures to protect educational spaces during armed conflict.
UNICEF has repeatedly urged full implementation of the declaration, stressing the need for safe and inclusive learning environments.
Mega school attack sparks outrage
The PUNCH earlier reported that gunmen invaded the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in the early hours of Monday, killing a vice principal and abducting multiple students.
A school guard was also injured during the attack. Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the military, have since launched a search-and-rescue operation.
Nigeria’s defence capacity under scrutiny
The Senate debate also touched on the country’s current defence capabilities. According to Global Firepower’s 2022 ranking, Nigeria retained its 35th position out of 142 countries and is rated the third most powerful military in Africa.
The report placed Nigeria’s total active personnel at 135,000, with total military personnel at 215,000 and no reserve component. It also listed Nigeria’s hardware inventory: 140 aircraft, 376 tanks, 2,019 armoured vehicles, 349 towed artillery units and 47 rocket projectors.
Despite these figures, senators argued that the gap between capacity and operational reality remained wide, making the case for fresh recruitment and stronger safeguarding of schools across conflict-prone regions.
Source: Legit.ng
