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 application portal, which opened on 9 October, has received tens of thousands of entries. According to Colonel Aminu Bello, acting director of army public relations, the number of valid submissions is on track to surpass last year’s 48,000.
The short service commission provides a pathway for civilians to join the military through an intensive 44-week training programme at the Nigerian Defence Academy’s campus in Jaji, Kaduna State.
Successful candidates will be commissioned as lieutenants on completion. The course runs for nine years, with a possible three-year extension.
Applicants must be Nigerian citizens between the ages of 22 and 28, hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with at least a second-class lower division, and meet height requirements of 1.68 metres for men and 1.65 metres for women. Medical fitness and a clean police record are mandatory.
The army said it aims to recruit 3,800 new officers under this cycle, 400 more than the previous intake. The target increase aligns with operational needs in the northeast and north-west, where troops continue to engage Boko Haram and bandit groups.
The recruitment exercise has been restructured to ensure national representation and gender inclusion. Quotas introduced in 2022 reserve 15 percent of available positions for women and guarantee at least one candidate from each senatorial district. The policy is intended to balance regional participation and promote diversity in the force.
Recall that the recruitment portal experienced a brief technical disruption on 3 November due to heavy traffic, however the issue was resolved within 12 hours, and the platform has since remained stable.
The army also said screening of applicants will begin on 24 November at 14 centres nationwide.
The process will involve document verification, physical fitness assessments, and medical examinations.
Candidates are advised to print their acknowledgement slips from the recruitment website, as it serves as an examination invitation.
Colonel Bello reminded applicants to complete their submissions before the deadline, stating that there would be no extensions beyond 12 November. He said the server clock on the recruitment portal would determine the official closing time.
The Nigerian Army has maintained that the short service recruitment process remains free and transparent.
Applicants are warned against paying intermediaries or unauthorised persons. Enquiries can be directed to the army’s dedicated lines, 0817 926 9294 and 0810 995 9294, between 8 am and 6 pm daily.