Over 20,000 Applicants Participate as NAF Begins Nationwide Aptitude Test for 2025 Recruitment

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the Zonal General Aptitude Test for the Year 2025 Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 46 Recruitment Exercise, with over 20,000 applicants converging on testing centers across the country in a bid to secure spots in one of Nigeria’s most coveted military enlistment programs.

The high-stakes examinations kicked off on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at precisely 7:00 a.m., drawing eager young Nigerians from all corners of the federation to 15 designated zonal centers.

From the bustling streets of Lagos to the historic walls of Kano, applicants aged between 17 and 22, hailing from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds braved early morning queues, armed with their acknowledgement slips, pencils, and erasers, as per NAF guidelines.

The sheer volume of participants underscores the intense competition for the limited slots available in the BMTC 46 intake, a rigorous 10-month training program designed to mold raw recruits into disciplined airmen and airwomen ready to defend Nigeria’s skies.

“This is more than just a test; it’s a gateway to service, honor, and a stable future for our youth,” said Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement released ahead of the exams.

“We are committed to a transparent, merit-based process that ensures only the best join our ranks to confront evolving security threats, from insurgency to cyber warfare.”

The aptitude test, a critical first hurdle in the multi-stage recruitment drive, assesses candidates’ cognitive abilities, logical reasoning, and general knowledge skills deemed essential for the demands of modern aerial warfare.

Shortlisted from an even larger pool of initial applicants who applied online between October 14 and November 25, 2025, these over 20,000 contenders represent a cross-section of Nigeria’s ambitious Gen Z and millennial cohorts, many of whom view military service as a pathway out of economic hardship amid soaring youth unemployment rates hovering above 40% nationally.

The recruitment exercise comes at a pivotal moment for the NAF, which has intensified efforts to expand its personnel strength to over 50,000 active members by 2030, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s defense modernization agenda.

Last year’s BMTC 45 intake saw similar fervor, with thousands shortlisted from nationwide applications, but only a fraction advancing to final training.

Successful candidates from this aptitude round will proceed to comprehensive medical screenings, physical fitness evaluations, and final interviews in early 2026, with training set to commence mid-year at NAF bases.

NAF urges all participants to monitor the official recruitment portal at nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng for updates, emphasizing that no form of inducement or external influence will sway the selection process. With patriotism in the air, Saturday’s tests were not just an exam but a collective affirmation of Nigeria’s unyielding spirit.