Nigerian Army Dismisses Ex-Soldier’s Claims of Low Pay, Poor Equipment
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Army has rejected allegations by a dismissed soldier that troops are poorly paid and forced to buy their own protective gear, describing the claims as misleading and disconnected from the military’s structured pay system.
In a social media video, Rotimi Olamilekan, known as Soja Boi, shared bank alerts he said showed his monthly earnings as a soldier — approximately $81 (about 98,000 naira) plus a $14 allowance. He also claimed that soldiers deployed to conflict zones such as Maiduguri receive extra payments, including roughly $32 for operations and $4 for security.
Olamilekan challenged the Army to publish its full payroll to prove otherwise, alleging that some personnel purchase their own protective equipment.
The Army swiftly dismissed the assertions, stating that soldiers’ pay is clearly defined by rank and years of service, and that all personnel are properly equipped for their duties.
In a statement, Army authorities noted that Olamilekan was not discharged because of his allegations but due to indiscipline and violations of military social media regulations. They reiterated that the military maintains transparent and fair compensation structures.
“All personnel receive what they are entitled to based on their rank and length of service,” an Army spokesperson said, adding that the claims made in the video do not reflect the reality of service conditions.
Olamilekan has not provided further evidence to support his allegations beyond the bank alerts shown online. Calls for the release of a full military payroll have not been addressed by the Army, which maintains that internal records are confidential.
The incident has sparked debate on social media, with some users expressing sympathy for the former soldier and others backing the military’s position. No independent verification of either party’s claims has been made public.
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