Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Nigerian Army has formally flagged off the construction of a new Army Depot in Ebonyi State to serve the South-East geopolitical zone, following the official handover of land by the Ebonyi State Government.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Amangwu–Amasiri boundary in Edda and Afikpo Local Government Areas of the state on Tuesday and was attended by top military officers, state officials, traditional leaders and community stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, described the project as a historic achievement for the South-East and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of the depot under his Renewed Hope Initiative.
He said the project demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to equity, fairness and national integration in the distribution of critical security infrastructure.
Governor Nwifuru noted that the new Army Depot would strengthen the security architecture in the region, enhance manpower development and improve the operational readiness of the Nigerian Army.
He explained that the facility would complement existing depots in Kaduna and Osogbo, ensuring a steady supply of well-trained personnel to address evolving security challenges across the country.
The governor formally handed over the parcel of land, covering about 618 hectares, to the Nigerian Army and assured the military of the state’s continuous support.
He added that beyond security benefits, the project would stimulate economic growth through job creation, infrastructure development and improved civil-military relations in Ebonyi and neighbouring states.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, represented by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division and Commander, Joint Task Force South-East, Major General Oluremi Fadairo, said the establishment of the depot was part of the Army’s strategic efforts to expand its training capacity and manpower.
According to him, Nigeria’s increasingly complex security environment necessitates the scaling up of training facilities and resources.
He stated that the Ebonyi depot would play a key role in producing disciplined, professional and combat-ready soldiers for deployment nationwide.
Major General Fadairo expressed appreciation to the Ebonyi State Government and host communities for their cooperation and support, stressing that effective security can only be achieved through strong collaboration between the military and the civilian population.
The Chairman of Edda Local Government Area, Chima Ekumankama, welcomed the project, describing it as a unifying development that would foster peace and progress in the area.
He pledged that the communities would maintain peace and fully support the Nigerian Army to ensure the success of the project.
