The Nigerian Army has announced that applications for the Short Service Combatant Course 49/2026 will close in one week, with the deadline fixed for midnight on Wednesday, 12 November. The online application portal, which opened on 9 October, has already attracted tens of thousands of entries. According to Colonel Aminu Bello, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the number of valid submissions is expected to surpass last year’s figure of 48,000.
The Short Service Combatant Course offers a direct pathway for civilians to join the military through an intensive 44-week training programme held at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Jaji, Kaduna State. Successful candidates will be commissioned as lieutenants upon completion of the course, which runs for nine years with an option for a three-year extension.
Applicants are required to be Nigerian citizens aged between 22 and 28 years, possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with at least a second-class lower division, and meet the height standards of 1.68 metres for men and 1.65 metres for women. The army also emphasised that medical fitness and a clean police record are mandatory for all applicants.
Colonel Bello said the Nigerian Army is targeting the recruitment of 3,800 new officers under this cycle, an increase of 400 compared to the previous intake. He explained that the expansion aligns with ongoing operational needs in the northeast and northwest, where troops are actively engaged in counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations.
The recruitment exercise has been updated to promote inclusivity and fair representation. New policies introduced in 2022 reserve 15 percent of available slots for women and guarantee at least one candidate from every senatorial district in the country. “The policy ensures balance in regional participation and promotes diversity in the Nigerian Army,” Colonel Bello said.
The application portal experienced a temporary technical disruption on 3 November due to heavy user traffic but was restored within 12 hours. Since then, the platform has remained stable.
Screening of applicants is scheduled to begin on 24 November at 14 centres across Nigeria. The process will involve document verification, physical fitness assessments, and medical examinations. Candidates have been advised to print their acknowledgement slips from the recruitment website, as these serve as their examination invitations.
Colonel Bello reminded applicants to submit their forms before the deadline, noting that “there will be no extensions beyond 12 November.” He added that the server clock on the recruitment portal would determine the official closing time. The army reiterated that the recruitment process is free and transparent. Applicants are warned against paying intermediaries or unauthorised persons. All enquiries can be directed to the army’s official lines, 0817 926 9294 and 0810 995 9294, between 8 am and 6 pm daily.
