Senate Seeks Mass Recruitment of 100,000 Nigerian Youths Into Military to Tackle Insecurity

• The Senate has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately authorize the recruitment of 100,000 youths into the armed forces, warning that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity has reached crisis levels.

The Senate on Tuesday raised fresh alarm over Nigeria’s escalating insecurity and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately approve the recruitment of at least 100,000 youths into the armed forces to strengthen the nation’s overstretched security architecture.

The lawmakers also resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the utilisation of funds allocated to the Safe School Programme, following renewed concerns that Nigerian schools remain highly vulnerable to attacks — the most recent being the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State.

The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (APC, Kebbi North), who warned that insecurity had reached a dangerous level requiring urgent national intervention.

During the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) described the situation as “an existential threat,” urging lawmakers to rise above political sentiments.

“We shouldn’t be political or lackadaisical about it because those children are not our own,” he said.

Senator Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South) lamented that Nigeria had “fallen into the trap of its enemies”, stressing that failure to unite would endanger the country’s future.

Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North) expressed frustration that despite huge security budgets, attacks and killings persisted.

“These children are the leaders of tomorrow. We must do everything possible to protect them,” he noted.

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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) accused state governors of abandoning their constitutional responsibilities in security management.

“Security is not only the responsibility of the federal government. Governors must be engaged,” he said.

Also contributing, Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) called for technology-driven intelligence systems to track abducted children, while Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) questioned why schoolgirls remained primary targets.

“Where has the girl child gone wrong? Are we saying we don’t want girls to go to school? This is a national emergency,” he said.

In a unanimous decision, the Senate adopted an additional prayer by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), demanding the immediate recruitment of 100,000 youths into the armed forces.

Oshiomhole emphasised that the recruits must be adequately trained and equipped to confront bandits, terrorists, and other violent groups terrorising the country.

The Senate also called for increased deployment of modern surveillance and intelligence technology to combat insecurity and assist in locating the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls.