By Amara Agha, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making history with the approval of the first Nigerian Army Depot to be sited in the South-East.
Nwifuru made the declaration on Tuesday as he formally handed over 618 hectares of land located between Amangwu, Edda Local Government Area and Amasiri, Afikpo North, to the Nigerian Army for the landmark project.
“This project is a fulfilment of a long aspiration of our people,” the governor said, describing the depot as a bold commitment to equity, justice and national integration.
“On behalf of the entire South-East, I thank Mr President and the Chief of Army Staff for this historic approval.”
The governor noted that the depot, the first in the region would complement existing facilities in Kaduna and Osogbo, boost military manpower development and strengthen Nigeria’s response to evolving security threats.
He said the initiative under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda would also stimulate economic activity across Ebonyi and neighbouring states through job creation, infrastructure expansion and closer civil-military cooperation.
Nwifuru assured the Army of maximum state support and urged residents to maintain peace and cooperate with security agencies.
He called on the military to uphold professionalism and respect for host communities, describing Ebonyians as “a warm and hospitable people.”
Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluremi Fadairo, said the depot was part of wider reforms to expand training capacity as the country confronts complex and rapidly evolving security challenges.
Chairmen of Afikpo North and Edda LGAs, Timothy Nwachi and Chima Ekumankama, welcomed the development, noting that it had resolved long-standing boundary disagreements and restored confidence in national security commitments to the region.
They pledged grassroots support and expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, saying the project would transform the host communities.
The ceremony ended with goodwill messages and renewed pledges of collaboration from traditional leaders, community stakeholders and security agencies as work begins on the Nigerian Army Depot, Ebonyi.
