Senator Emma Nwachukwu, representing Anambra South, has warned that the growing reluctance of Igbo youths to enlist in the Nigerian Armed Forces could leave the South-East severely underrepresented in the officer cadre of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in the coming years.
Senator Nwachukwu raised the concern while addressing constituents at his country home in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He noted that interactions with several local youths revealed a widespread fear of being deployed to frontlines in areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency—a concern he believes is heavily driving down application numbers.
Urging young people across the region to seize available recruitment opportunities in the Armed Forces and other security agencies, Nwachukwu warned of the long-term consequences for the region.
“If the South-East continues to record low enlistment, it will inevitably affect our representation in national security institutions and lead to further complaints of marginalisation,” he stated.
He called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and the media to launch aggressive awareness campaigns to encourage qualified youths to pursue military careers.
The senator’s warning aligns with growing concerns over dwindling enlistment figures from the region. In April 2025, an Army recruitment delegate similarly appealed to South-East youths to apply, citing historically low application rates across several states in the zone.
