Lagos Government Targets 5,700 Youths for Military Recruitment
The Lagos State Government has directed secretaries of its 57 local government areas and local council development areas to mobilise 5,700 youths for ongoing military recruitment.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, gave the directive during a meeting with the 57 secretaries in Lagos, asking each to present 100 eligible candidates.
She said the mobilisation drive was aimed at helping Lagos meet its military recruitment quota, noting that the state had repeatedly fallen short despite improvements in previous exercises.
According to her, Lagos was allocated 420 recruitment slots, making it necessary for local authorities to intensify efforts to attract more qualified applicants.
Salu-Hundeyin urged the secretaries to target youths aged between 18 and 26 in their respective communities, expressing confidence that grassroots mobilisation would improve participation.
She also said the meeting addressed security concerns, preparations for forthcoming elections and measures to sustain peace across the state, particularly during the ember months.
The SSG cautioned young people against electoral violence and thuggery, reminding them that elections offered citizens an opportunity to choose their leaders without resorting to conflict.
She further encouraged residents to report suspicious activities promptly to security agencies, stressing the importance of community participation in maintaining public safety.
Salu-Hundeyin described the local government secretaries as a vital link between the state government and communities, urging them to monitor government policies and report issues requiring state intervention.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Body of Secretaries to Local Governments, Mr Kunle Olambiwonnu, pledged that the secretaries would comply with the directive and work towards achieving the recruitment target.
Olambiwonnu said they would engage traditional rulers, including Baales, Community Development Committees and Community Development Associations, to encourage eligible youths to register for the exercise.
He added that the awareness campaign would address fears among parents and young people who believed military recruitment automatically meant deployment to the battlefield.
He described the meeting as part of regular consultations between the secretaries and the SSG on governance, security and other issues affecting communities across Lagos State.
