Nigerian Army Facts: Officers Salaries, Ranks, Badges, Logo, Motto Arabic Meaning

Nigerian Army Facts: Officers Salaries, Ranks, Badges, Logo, Motto Arabic Meaning

The Nigerian Army is one of the three parts of the “Nigerian Military”. The others are “The Nigerian Navy“, and “The Nigerian Air force“.

The Nigerian Army is in charge of land warfare, and is ruled by the “NAC” (Nigerian Army Council).

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The Nigeria Navy handles all water related battles, and sea combats, while the Nigerian Air Force, as the name implies, handles all the air combats.

The army is the biggest segment of the Nigerian Military Force.

They are in charge of fighting security threats, and insurgencies.

They have been in charge of fighting the boko haram insurgency since it started in 2009, when the Jihadist group created a well mobilized insurrection.

The Nigerian Army was founded in 1960, and has been active ever since. Their headquarter is located at Abuja (FCT), Nigeria.

Today, there are over 200,000 soldiers in the Nigerian Army, and the number keeps growing.

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Over the years, they have been involved in several wars and crisis.

The Nigerian Army was engaged in wars and crisis like; “The Congo Crisis”, which lasted from 1960 to 1965, “The Nigerian Civil War”, also known as “The Biafra War”, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, “The First Liberian Civil War”, which lasted from 1989 to 1997, “The Seirra Leone Civil War”, which began in 1991, and ended in 2002, “The Niger Delta Conflict”, which was said to have started way back in the 90s, “The Boko Haram Insurgency”, which started since 2009 and is still active, “The Northern Mali War”, which started in 2012-present, and “The Invasion of the Gambia”, which was an ECOWAS military intervention in Gambia, to restore democracy. This started in 2017, and is still ongoing.

The Nigerian Army is currently one of the strongest in Africa today. They have strong soldiers, good fighters, and strategic combat techniques.

Recently, the Nigerian Army launched a huge modernization program. This is to introduce the army to 21st Century weapons, better training, and modern ways to gather information.

This program has about 150,000 soldiers, and 6,000 officers at present.

Soon, the Nigerian army would be fully ready for the nationwide usage of 21st century tools and weapons.

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List of Nigerian Army ranks and symbols.

Like other governmental branches, the Nigerian army has a structure of grading soldiers (ranks), and also have some symbols.

The Logo Of the Nigerian Army.

The logo of the Nigerian army has an eagle with it’s wings spread apart, standing on a six-point star, with an Arabic Inscription beneath.

The entire logo is made of three (3) colours; Red, Black, and Yellow.

Although the eagle is a powerful bird that flies at great altitudes, it has a strong tie with the earth. An eagle has four toes, which is a representation of a solid foundation. As a spirit animal, it watches over us as a guardian.

It symbolizes great strength, power and well-being.

In the logo of the Nigeria Army, the eagle represents the merciful power of the army.

The two colour (black & yellow) laced six-point star represents unity and peace in Nigeria.

The star has two colours (black & yellow) interlaced in each of the six points.

This is traced back to 1914. It is a representation of the Northern and Southern protectorates who were united in peace, in order for the nation “Nigeria”, to be created.

This amalgamation was done by the First Governor General of Nigeria, which was Sir Lord Lugard.

Nigeria has continuously maintained this unity despite the fact that it was threatened between 1967 to 1970, during the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafra War.

This war lasted for three whole years and was fought between Nigeria, and the Igbo People who represented Biafra.

The Biafra represented the national aims of the Igbo nation, whose administration thought they would split from Nigeria, as they couldn’t bear staying in a government dominated by the Northerners.

Biafra was led by Chief Chukuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. He was a military officer (Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army, and General in the Biafran Army), and an active politician in Nigeria. He died in 2011, at the age of 78.

Even after the Biafra war, Nigeria maintained her bond.

Origin And Meaning Of Arabic Inscription On The Nigerian Army Logo

The Arabic inscription beneath the six-point star in the logo of the Nigerian Army is their motto.

This is transcribed in english as; “Victory comes from God alone“.

During the creation of the logo in the time of Lugard, the only written language in West Africa, especially between the generally spread hausa traders across the locality, was Arabic.

The Arabic was also used then, for symbols, currencies, and official badges in West Africa.

The inscription has remained untranslated in the logo of the Nigerian Army since then.

The logo of the Nigerian Army has a background of two colours. These are; red and black, aligned vertically like the Nigerian flag.

This is also the flag of the Nigerian Army.

The red colour in the logo represents the foe forces, and their doings.

This is in accordance with the “North Atlantic Treaty Organization” (NATO) military colour code, and they stand for same thing when used anywhere in the military.

The black colour in the logo background according to the military, stands for cavalry which represents soldiers who fought on horse backs, and also represents mechanized troops.

Now you know what the logo of the Nigerian Army means.

It is high time we moved on…

What are the ranks in Nigerian Army?

The ranking structure of the Nigerian army is divided into parts.

• The Non-commissioned Officers.
• The Commissioned Officers.

Whether you are a non-commissioned officer or a commissioned officer solely depends on your rank in the Nigerian Army.

The ranks structure for the non-commissioned officers in the Nigerian Army is as follows, in ascending order.

1. Private: These are soldiers who just past out of training, and are considered rankless. It is not actually a rank. You can call these guys recruits.
2. Lance Corporal: This is considered the first rank in the Nigerian Army. This is indicated by a symbol that looks like a “V” shape in the upper arm of the uniform.
3. Corporal: The corporal is the second rank in the Nigerian army, when counting from the lowest ranks. This is indicated by a double “V” shapped sign on the upper arm of the uniform.
4. Sergeant: When you get promoted as a corporal, you become a sergeant. This rank is denoted by a triple “V” like shape, in same position of the uniform, like the others.
5. Staff Sergeant: This is the next rank after the sergeant. You get promoted from a sergeant, to a staff sergeant.

This is represented by a golden eagle above the tripple “V” like shape, and is beginning of being a senior officer.

6. Warrant Officer: A warrant officer is the rank just above the staff sergeant.

The symbol for this rank is a golden eagle in a crown of semi-circled olive branches, on a badge, placed on the uniform.

7. Master Warrant Officer: This is the most senior non-commissioned officer rank. You get promoted from a warrant officer to a master warrant officer.

The badge of this rank is the Nigerian Coat of Arm.

The rank structure for the commissioned officers in the Nigerian Army is as follows, in ascending order.

8. Second Lieutenant: When you get promoted as a master warrant officer, you become a second lieutenant.

This is the first rank as a commissioned officer, and the symbol of this rank is a badge on the centre of your chest, with a six-point star.

9. First Lieutenant: This is the second rank as a commissioned officer. When you get promoted as a second lieutenant, you become a first lieutenant.

This is indicated by two six-point stars on a badge on the uniform like the second lieutenant.

10. Captain: This is the next rank just above the First Lieutenant. The first and second lieutenants are first and second substitutes to the captain respectively.

This is a widely known rank, and is indicated by a badge on the centre of the chest with three six-point stars.

11. Major: In the army, the rank after the Captain is the Major.

This rank is identified by an eagle of silver colour, on the badge of the uniform.

12. Lieutenant Colonel: This is the rank just above the Major. It is identified by an eagle above a six point star on the badge of the uniform.
13. Colonel: When you go further as a Lieutenant Colonel (Promotion), you become a Colonel. This is one of the most senior ranks in the army.

The symbol for this rank is an eagle above two six-point start all in silver, on the badge of the uniform.

14. Brigadier General: This is the rank above a Colonel. It is the first rank as a General. If on field duty, a Brigadier General commands thousands of troops.

This rank is identified by  a golden eagle, above three golden triangular arranged six-point stars.

15. Major General: This is one of the highest ranks in the Nigerian Army. It is the rank above a Brigadier General, and is the second rank as a General in the Army.

It is identified by an eagle above a crossed sword and baton in form of an “X” shape.

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16. Lieutenant General: When you become a Lieutenant General, you have it all.

This is the third highest rank in the army, and the second highest rank ever attained in Nigeria.

It is identified by a symbol of three elements aligned vertically. The symbol of this rank is an eagle above a six-point star which is above a sword and a baton crossed in “X” shape, and all in black colour.

17. General: This is the highest rank as far as the Nigerian Army is concerned. It is the highest rank obtained by anyone in the country.

It is identified by a golden eagle above two golden six-point stars, which all sits above a golden sword and a golden baton crossed in “X” shape.

18: Field Marshal: If you are asking “What is the highest rank in the Army?” Then know now, that it is not the General, but the Field Marshal.

This is the highest rank in the army. Since the creation of the Nigerian Army, no one has attained this rank.

It is less popular due to this, but is the highest rank in the army.

This rank is identified by a golden eagle above a golden sword and baton crossed in “X” shape, with two semi-circled golden olive branches on both sides.

How much is the salary in the Nigerian Army?

The salary arrangement of the Nigerian Army moves in accordance with the ranks, and whether you are a commissioned officer, or not.

Here’s the outline of the Salary of the Non-Commissioned officers in the Nigerian Army, in ascending order.

1. Private: A private in the Nigerian Army receives about #48,000 every month. This is the lowest salary of a soldier in the Nigerian Army.
2. Lance Corporal: A lance corporal in the Nigerian Army receives about #55,000.
3. Corporal: They receive #58,000
4. Sergeant: A sergeant in the Nigerian Army receives a monthly salary of #63,000
5. Staff Sergeant: A staff sergeant receives a salary of #68,000.
6. Warrant Officer: A warrant officer receives the sum of #80,000 every month.
7. Master Warrant Officer: When you become a master warrant officer, you start earning the sum of #90,000.

This is the last salary as a non-commissioned officer.

The salary of the commissioned officers in the Nigerian Army is as follows, in ascending order.

1. Second Lieutenant: As you become a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army, you start earning #120,000.
2. First Lieutenant: The First Lieutenant receives a salary of #180,000.
3. Captain: A captain receives a whooping sum of #220,000.
4. Lieutenant Colonel: A Lieutenant Colonel receives the sum of #300,000.
5. Colonel: A Colonel in the Nigerian Army receives #550,000.

6.Brigadier General: As you first become a General in the Nigerian Army (Brigadier General), you start receiving a monthly salary of #750,000.

7. Major General: A major General receives #950,000 monthly.
8. Lieutenant General: When you become a Lieutenant General, you start earning millions.

A Lieutenant General in the Nigerian Army receives a monthly salary of #1Million.

9. General: A General in the Nigerian army receives an eye opening sum of #1.5Million in a month.

This is the highest salary in the Nigerian Army.

10. Field Marshal: We do not know about the salary of Field Marshals, as we do not, and have never had one.

I believe you now know much about the Nigerian Army, their ranks, symbols, and salaries.