…states benefits
The Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged indigenous Lagosians to make the most of the opportunity, availed in the ongoing 89 RRI Military recruitment exercise for young men and women into the Nigerian Army.
Speaking on behalf of Sanwo-Olu at a sensitization campaign for Nigerian Army 89 RRI Regular Recruits Intake (Trades Non-tradesmen and Women) with a passionate appeal to indigenous youths and stakeholders,the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barrister ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin FICMC, MCArb, mirrors the fact that oftentimes the southern part of Nigeria had not met their reserved quota.
She made the disclosure and reiterated the importance of youths joining the Army at a parley held in Ikotun-Igando LCDA and Ikeja local government respectively on Wednesday.
Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin also raised a concern that in the whole of the southern parts of Nigeria we have 17 percent in the military and that security is easily compromised, when we ignored the need to get involved.
“Essentially, we came here for grassroots sensitisation because we have observed that in the military, the Lagos State youths are not fulfilling their quota.
“Mr. Governor consequently gave a marching order that we must ensure that every quota given to the state by Mr. President is filled by the state and not non- indigenes as it used to be in the past.
“That is why we’ve been going from one senatorial district to another and that is why we came here, we had interactive sessions and the youths also told us why they have been scared to join the military.
“We tried to allay their fears and let them know, their major threat is that they feel the military is a death trap and you can’t see life like that, you have to be positive, nowhere truly is safe and nowhere is a death trap.
“People die in their beds sleeping, people die while eating,die in their offices, so not only when you go to war front and like you also make them to understand this is a age of AI and a lot of our youths understood that, that it is coming to a level where soldiers don’t face each other anymore in wars they do it through AI.
“The advantages of joining the military and particularly at this level is so enormous and it is hard to see that our youths in Lagos State are missing out on it.
“Are you aware that if you join the military at this level,which is the easiest to join, you need four passes at two sittings or a trade certificate qualifies you and then if you an indigene that is another qualification, between the ages of 18-26 years old and you are healthy that is all.
“When you get in the military, you are trained in whatever profession you intend to go into either as a lawyer, engineer and all you are welcome.
“The beauty of it is that you need not bother about transportation to camp ground, because after submission of forms and they are asked to come down to camp ground for training before they are taken to the final place where they start, what Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done no other state has done it.
“He put all of them, there can be 700, 1000 or more in an hotel here in Ikeja, and we have a bus dedicated to take them in the morning and return them in the evening, we also give them stipend for their feeding.
“From the minute your form goes through you have a new life and hope and I think everyone should make use of this opportunity.
She however, raised concern about the poor turn out of the youths in Ikeja for the sensitisation programme, while urging them to turn a new leaf given the need to fill the state quota with indigenes of the state.
“We are not giving any of our quota out again. We want our children to benefit from what belongs to them; this is their own right and they must enjoy it.
The SSG added that the application which started 31st of March will close by May 17,2025 and that the team will be in Ikorodu and Surulere on Thursday for the further sensitization.
