The recent inauguration of the second military training depot in Osogbo, Osun State, by the Federal Government marks a historic milestone. For over a century, since 1914, Zaria in Kaduna had remained the sole centre for military training in Nigeria. Now, for the first time, the training of our armed forces has been decentralized, signaling that the era of concentration in a single region is gradually giving way to a fairer distribution of national assets.
This development affirms that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is inching closer to true decentralization of power and national institutions. If this bold step is possible in the South-West, it is equally possible and indeed necessary in the South-South. And that is precisely the vision behind Senator Ned Nwoko’s bill for a Nigeria Defence Academy in Kwale, Delta State.
Senator Ned Nwoko has long argued that Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million and facing unprecedented security challenges, cannot continue to rely on a single Defence Academy in Kaduna. His bill, read for the first time in March 2024, is not merely about adding another campus, it is about reimagining the future of Nigeria’s security preparedness. He has made a compelling case that the establishment of the NDA in Kwale would double, if not triple, the number of cadets trained annually, thereby closing the glaring gap in the number of personnel available to confront terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and other threats that have overwhelmed our security forces.
Equity and justice also form the core of his argument. Senator Ned Nwoko has rightly pointed out that it is inequitable and impractical for a country as vast and diverse as Nigeria to centralize such a critical institution in one part of the country. Just as the Nigeria Law School expanded beyond Lagos to accommodate the growing number of law graduates, the Defence Academy must expand to serve the needs of all Nigerians. Establishing one in Kwale not only ensures balance but also strengthens the spirit of national unity.
In the end, Senator Ned Nwoko’s proposal goes far beyond regional benefit, it is a national security imperative. If the Federal Government can decentralize military training depots by opening one in Osun after over a century, then there is no justifiable reason why the Nigeria Defence Academy should remain confined to Kaduna. The Kwale NDA Bill is a visionary step towards a stronger, safer, and more equitable Nigeria. Passing it into law will not only transform our military training but also prove that true decentralization is possible in every facet of governance when the political will is there.
