₦airaland Forum

Topgainer:
Majority of his members (including the women who donated their daughters to them for sponsorship) will feel the same. His Holiness, Prophet Apostle Reverend King Ezeugo have members who till today feel he is persecuted for being a powerful man of god. All the evidence against him are summarily dismissed by these adherents as the persecution their man of god must face. They still organize programs in his church premises
It is called SPELL

odimbannamdi:
It had always been my dream to join the Nigerian Army since my NYSC days in 2013/14 at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ojo. It seemed the perfect career path where I could deploy my intelligence, wit, strength and patriotism to my country. So, it was with so much eagerness that I applied for the Army SSC recruitment the very day applications were declared open. Thereafter, I started praying to make the first shortlistment, at least

My joy knew no bounds on the 29th of July when I saw my name in The Punch newspaper among the 30 shortlisted candidates from each state expected to report to the NDA old site, Kaduna on the 5th of August. I could hardly sleep at night due to excitement. So my dream was finally coming through. I was finally going to become an officer with the Nigerian Army.

I reported at Kaduna for the screening by exactly 3:30pm on the 5th of August. Only 17 people showed up for the screening from my state (Abia State): 15 on the first day, and another 2 a few days later.

A semi-apron-like blue tag containing a 2 lettered abbreviation of your state of origin and number was issued to every candidate, to be won all through the screening period (mine was AB08). Officially, we were to be known and regarded by this tag number. You would hear stuffs like “AB08, how far na? GB14, old boy I dey o” At some point, we all forgot our names. Lol. Also, it is this number you would send to your sponsors for influential purposes

An adhoc screening board made up of a Major General (the president of the board), 3 Colonels, 3 Lieutenant Colonels (the board secretary was one of them), 3 Captains (the board Admin Officer was one of them) and 3 Lieutenants was set up.

The first screening stage was vetting of candidates’ credentials to ascertain their authenticity and whether we would still be below the required maximum age of 29 by October. A Lt. Col. (the C.O. of 1div Hospital at NDA new site) screened for my state and he was very thorough. I noticed that the Army even prefers you to be younger than the minimum required age.

The next screening stage was writing an aptitude test. Candidates were divided into 3 groups. 1st group wrote at the hall just adjacent the parade ground. 2nd group wrote at the Cadet mess while the 3rd group (which included my state) wrote at the staff school, (one Professor Yahaya or so hall)

The test comprised of 4 sections:

- An essay (WHY YOU WANT TO JOIN THE NIGERIAN ARMY) of 500 – 1000words
- 10 English questions
- Around 7 Maths questions (can’t remember exactly now)
- Around 15 – 20 current affairs questions (cant remember exactly too)

The test was over in 2hours time. I gathered that the test was aimed at gauging our communicative ability, so more attention was paid to the essay and english objective questions. Some candidates were evicted based on the result of this test.

The next screening stage was the “almighty” medical and physical examination. As a result of the mammoth crowd and many tests we were supposed to undergo, we were shared into various groups. My state and some other states first went to the Medical Reception Station (MRS) for Xray. The next day, some of us went to 1div hospital, new NDA site, for blood tests, physical, dental and optical examination, checking of Blood pressure and BMI.

Considering the significance of this stage to a candidate’s final selection, I will try to explain each test further

Physical examination: Here, we were stripped Unclad, asked to stand straight with our hands placed at varying positions (this is to check if we have a bad posture such as kyphosis [hunched back] or lordosis) and our feet making a V-shape (to check for flat feet). The number of our testes was checked. We were then asked to grab our buttocks, bend down with our anus very visible and cough (this is to check if we have had pile before)

Blood and urine tests: Over 5mls of our blood was drawn and our urine taken in a sterile bottle. We were tested for diseases such Hepatitis B, HIV, Syphilis etc. I think our blood group and genotype were also checked

Blood Pressure reading: Being in a cool environment (such as an air-conditioned room), prior to checking your blood pressure, helps calm you down, consequently normalizing it. One Corporal Mike hinted us that the optimal reading is 120/90 or 110/80, while anything more than 140/90 is regarded as being high.

Body Mass Index (BMI): Our height and weight were measured, after taking off our shoes. The readings were used to determine our BMI. The full diameter of our chest during deep inhaling was also measured

Eye examination: We were asked to read letters from an eye chart placed about 10meters and 0.5meter away from us with one of our eyes closed at each time. Next, we were asked to decipher letters printed in colour patterns. Both tests were used to detect if we have long or short-sightedness and Astigmatism

Dental Examination: The alignment, number and grip of our teeth were also checked

The medical and physical examinations took almost 5days to conclude. Any state that finishes its medicals proceeded to do the psychology tests.

During the Psychology tests, 2 Lieutenants shared a booklet containing questions that tried to figure out our history of stimulants/drugs usage. The questions were structured in a way that when you lie in the first question, you would have to keep lying to the end. LOL.

Alcohol usage kind of raised a controversy among candidates because almost every young man has, at one point or the other, taken a sip of the contents of the green bottle. But I observed that as long as your alcohol usage wasnt a source of worry to your loved ones or you haven’t suffered a challenge arising from it (of course, the questions asked us that), then it wasn’t enough to disqualify you.

However, other classes of stimulants used via smoking, inhaling, sniffing or injecting, I observed too, disqualified some candidates. I think they tested their urine for the presence of such stimulants, cant say exactly. We were further interviewed based on our answers
The results of the medical and psychology tests were announced together and candidates were consequently evicted.

I WAS EVICTED AT THIS STAGE TOO. I will talk about it soon

HOW RESULTS OF EACH SCREENING STAGE WAS ANNOUNCED[/b]

To a very great extent, the screening process was transparent.

Upon completion of each screening stage, the board members met and compiled the list of candidates who are “suspects of eviction”. All members of the board then arrive the parade ground to meet orderly but very anxious candidates.

Starting from Abia state, the board secretary calls out names of candidates who are made to immediately shout “Yes Sir!” with a leap and, along with their credentials, jogs to a part of the parade ground and sits on the ground.

Candidates who were flagged for eviction resulting from credentials screening were subjected to a review where their credentials were looked at again before final eviction.

The aptitude test stage did not need a review, of course. You don fail you don fail. No argument.

After the first set of medical and physical examinations, candidates were taken back to 1div hospital for review. Here, if you fell short of the accepted standard in any of the tests, apart from the blood and urine tests, you would be called in to be reviewed by the medical team.

Evictions resulting from the medical and psychological tests was, perhaps, the most touching and monumental. Lol. When the soldiers and officers were telling us that “medicals must drop over half of all of you. That one na dole”, we thought they were only envious of our would-be officer status.

The evening the results ought to have been announced, we waited for the board members till 10pm in the night. The secretary later came and told us that the results would be announced the next day. He instructed us to come to the parade ground with our bags the next morning.

The next morning, around 7am or later, all members of the board arrived the parade ground along with a public address system. There was a different kind of aura in the air. The atmosphere was so tensed.

Mounting the PAS, the board secretary started, “Candidates! Today, my problems will be reduced. Most of you will go back to your villages. The Nigerian Army does not compromise on health issues. If you hear your number, carry your kaya and run out. Is that clear!” Then he started

MY EVICTION
I was far from surprised when I heard my name. I saw it coming.

I was born with a flat feet, umbilical hernia (i.e. a painless prominent navel) and poor right eye vision. For as long as I can remember, distanced objects appear very blurry when viewed using only my right eye (with my left eye closed). I never thought it was something to worry about because I have perfect sight with my both eyes working.

All these were flagged during the medical tests and I was reviewed based on them again.

It was with a broken heart that I picked up my kaya and jogged to the drill shed to await further instructions.


Indeed, over half of the candidates were evicted based on medical and psychological grounds. In fact, Ogun state saw over 20 of its candidates sent packing, leaving behind just 4!

After calling out the names, the board members came to address us. A lucky few who were evicted for being overweight were called out and asked to go back and join up. Then the rest of us were individually called out and told the reasons for our eviction afterwhich our beloved tags were taken away from us.

As I left NDA gate, hot tears flowed down my cheeks. I was evicted for features my God created me with and not what I acquired. It was really painful.

But in everything, I give Him the glory because He knows the end from the beginning.

I will be dropping the fun part of life in NDA, the psyching from the officers and soldiers that made some candidates run away, the jobs we served and the pertinent lectures about the Army we got from Captain Abdullahi.

Stay tuned

GOD BLESS THE NIGERIAN ARMY! GOD BLESS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF

Hedonistically:
I can see the kind of primitive reta.rds that are recruited into the Nigerian Armed Forces - Predominantly daft, unable to reason, and utterly deluded. That explains why things are the way they are.

I don't have time for such rubbish. Now get lost.

Hedonistically:
I repeat, If you have any sense, note this: There is no bravery in 'jobbing' unarmed civilians. That is a mark of cowardice, not strength. Tell that to your colleagues.. This is the summary of my "rant", and sensible people would agree.

You're not a superman if you can only 'job' unarmed and outnumbered civilians because you have backup from the barracks and have access to legally issued arms and ammunition. It doesn't make sense. No long story can change this.

Don't come here to form boss for anybody as if you are special. Drop your gun, drop your phone (that you cowards always use to call for backup even if an ordinary mad woman steps on tour boot on a road), and remove your khaki. You would see that you are the same as every other healthy civilian male. Your feeling of superiority is baseless, unjustified, and disgusting.

Strength lies in taking on and conquering difficult adversaries, not in harassing unarmed and defenceless civilians. Roger that.

Hedonistically:
You cowards are senseless by default. What do you mean by "civilians are always confused"? Don't you ever get tired of this ridiculous feeling of superiority merely because you managed to get employed in the army (through connection o, not merit) and because you wear a khaki?

Hunger for which truth? The kind of disposable 'truth" often dispensed by the army spokesman such as that Shekau has been killed 10 times? Or that your cowardly act of running away from your Base and abandoning your weapons and ammunition to CIVILIAN Boko Haram rag-tags was a "tactical manoeuvre"?

You idiots shouldn't annoy me this morning.

Hedonistically:
What is this one saying? You should be ashamed of yourself. You and your 17 years first termal cadet, can you stand and fight an average healthy civilian male on the road without depending on backup or without the assurance of backup and your weapons??

If you are only making mouth because you have access to weapons bought with tax payers' money and because you can call on your fellow idiots to collectively oppress a single unarmed civilian, does that not show you are utterly foolish?

I don't understand the primitive indoctrination you fools receive. No wonder you can't defeat ordinary untrained rag-tags like Boko Haram. You merely joined the army to oppress unarmed and outnumbered civilians. When civilians take up arms and are sufficiently numbered, you run away like the cowards that you are.

If you have any sense, note this: There is no bravery in 'jobbing' unarmed civilians. That is a mark of cowardice, not strength.

Freeezzz:
Bro, don't try that sire, at least not with any Nigerian Army Personnel.

Babzilla:
Same way the "unconfused" millitary has been feeding us 'their truth' eh then turn around and harrass anyone who tells the truth

kolaish:
THIS IS ONE SIDE OF THE STORY, LET US WAIT TO HEAR FROM THE 19 BATTALION OR THE ARMY SPOKESMAN. I AM VERY SURE THAT THE ARMY DOES NOT CONDONE CRIMINALITY.

HungerBAD:
Sad end to a criminal.

But I am more curious about this 19th Battalion Unit,and their modus Operandi.

This 19th Battalion should be disbanded.

I happen to know this very Battalion on a very close level from their days at the Ikeja Military Cantonment Lagos,and my encounter with a certain LT Wari,one Ijaw Officer some years back still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

This 19th Battalion was kicked out of Lagos, and I thought they had been broken up. These guys are brutal and do not care who they brutalize.

Devil go Punish these 19th Battalion Soldiers for what they did to me.

Then that Soldier wey make me sleep for Mud say I dey speak too much English,Devil go visit am one day.

Idiots.

chuose:
We all have to rise up and resist this grazing bill Buhari is pushing.

It will only lead to problems and islamatization through he backdoor

The Christians in the Senate & Reps are as bad as the Pastors who sold us to this islamic govt

NextGovernor:
Only him 6 dogs. To feed and take care of 1 dog alone na nightmare not to talk if 6....

octacore:
People like you end up at the Sun newspaper with no fact and investigation but keep spewing trash.

It was after the student was shot in the eye things turned violent.

#IAmAFunaabite
#ISpeakTheTruthWithFact
#saveFUNAAB #policelies #medialies
#prayforTaiwo #prayforFUNAAB

midolian:
lol..I be short man oo..E b like say u new for nairaland, if not, u suppose know say I no tall @ all..

Reacted that way cos some pple derive so much joy in condemning others ...and in most cases, they are worse than those they are condemning.

HungerBAD:
Interesting.

The Government should not waste Nigeria's manpower investigating this man,he should simply be locked up as an economic saboteur.

This Militancy started from Bayelsa,when Goodluck Jonathan was the Deputy Governor,and he introduced this settlement of these RiffRaffs when he became Governor.

When he became President,him and his militant kinsmen had an open season on Nigeria's treasury.

Goodluck Jonathan had one Key to the Central Bank,and Tompolo had the other one,while Asari Dokubo was the Gateman to the Vault.

Goodluck Jonathan knows these Militants,they have been peppersouping together from his Deputy Governorship days.

Arrest Goodluck Jonathan,and Militancy in the Niger Delta will die a Natural Death.

greatness22:
You see why i say that some 9ja girls don't have sense at all.