The Bayelsa State Government has pledged to step up mobilisation across the state to ensure that qualified youths take advantage of the ongoing 92nd Regular Recruits Intake of the Nigerian Army.

The state is seeking to fill its allocation of about 750 recruitment slots, following concerns that Bayelsa has not consistently met its quota in previous recruitment exercises.

The commitment was made on Wednesday when a delegation from the Nigerian Army, led by the Director of Coordination at the Army War College, Abuja, Brigadier-General Ben Ogbuji, visited the Government House in Yenagoa as part of a sensitisation campaign.

Representing Governor Douye Diri, Deputy Governor Dr Peter Akpe said the state government would mobilise relevant government agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to encourage eligible Bayelsans to participate.

The government described the recruitment exercise as an employment opportunity for young people, while urging prospective applicants to understand and comply with the requirements of the exercise.

The Nigerian Army’s recruitment portal currently confirms that the 92nd Regular Recruits Intake is ongoing. The exercise covers regular recruits, including trades and non-trades categories, while the Army has also provided separate provisions for applicants with certain special skills.

Akpe also noted that some Bayelsan youths who had previously shown interest in joining the Army eventually withdrew from the process, while others were disqualified for failing to meet required conditions.

According to the state government, the ongoing sensitisation is therefore important in helping prospective applicants understand the process and avoid errors that could affect their eligibility.

Diri also encouraged political leaders, traditional rulers and community stakeholders to support the mobilisation effort, stressing that unfilled slots could eventually be taken by applicants from other states.

The governor said the current recruitment exercise involves about 28,000 potential recruits nationwide and urged Bayelsa stakeholders to ensure the state makes full use of its allocation.

Ogbuji, who led the Army delegation, said the visit was undertaken on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu.

He said the Army had observed that Bayelsa had not been meeting its recruitment allocation consistently, prompting the decision to embark on a sensitisation exercise aimed at improving participation.

Ogbuji explained that the campaign was also intended to address misconceptions and misinformation which may have discouraged young people in the state from participating in previous recruitment exercises.

He stressed that the Army would still complete its national recruitment target even if Bayelsa failed to fill all of its allocated positions, as unfilled opportunities could subsequently be taken up by applicants from other states.

The Army official said the Chief of Army Staff wanted Bayelsan youths to take advantage of the opportunity and play their part in the Nigerian Army.

The Nigerian Army had earlier announced that registration for the 92nd Regular Recruits Intake began in September 2026. Its official recruitment portal remains the appropriate source for current application information and requirements.

The Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, was also present during the meeting.

The development comes as the state government intensifies efforts to ensure that qualified young people in Bayelsa are not left out of opportunities available through the ongoing recruitment exercise.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia