₦airaland Forum

A 76-year-old military veteran, Colonel Nasiru Salami (retd.) has expressed worry over the ill-treatment given to retirees of the Nigerian Army by military authorities.

The septuagenarian who was was a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on the occasion of the 2025 Armed Forces’ Remembrance Day on Wednesday, complained about his unpaid pension and other post-retirement packages.

“We are asking for war bonus, those of us who fought the war. I retired in December 1983 and they promised us heaven and earth that they would give us our war bonus but up till now, we have not seen it,” he said, appealing to the government to do the needful and improve the welfare of him and his colleagues.

Salami said the Nigerian Legion in Lagos has over 24,000 members and that the Nigerian government was yet to pay him and his civil war survivors war bonuses over 50 years after.

The 76-year-old civil war veteran however, stated that he won’t encourage any of his children to join the Nigerian Army.

“For now, I will never recommend any of my children to join the Nigerian Army,” he said.


“I am their father and they are seeing me now that my life is not to their expectation. They would want me to be higher than this, full of joy and other things that would make them happy. How would I now encourage them to join the army?

“I have two graduates now and I said to them: ‘Never you think of going to join the army. If you want to join, maybe the Navy or the Air Force. I’ve not been there but I’ve been seeing them and I’ve been hearing about them because they are treated better.”

In a touching narration, he chronicled his voyage in the military right from his enlistment into the Nigerian Army in October 1967 to when he was moved straight to the battlefield for the Biafra war just after six weeks of training.

Salami, who is now the Secretary of the Nigerian Legion, Lagos Chapter, said he was on the battlefield for 11 months during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.

He also recounted painfully how he almost lost his right foot during the war, adding that plastic materials were embedded in the foot to augment the severe injury he suffered during the war

He said he went back to the war front to continue the war.

Source: https://punchng.com/I-will-never-recommend-joining-army-to-my-children-76-year-old-veteran

Quick Poll:
How many Nigerians can sacrifice their lives for Nigeria?

LIKE for "I cannot die for Nigeria"
SHARE for "I can die for Nigeria"

Only a foolish veteran allows his children join security operatives in Nigeria.

Noted.

Me too. Not even short service

Sharia is needed in Yoruba land

Not Nigeria army

Patriotism dies when corruption gets celebrated

Most terrorist can die for their terrorism!

A typical Nigerian will never do anything for Nigeria. They can however die for USA!

The ogas taking all the glory , meanwhile those fighting can not even have 3 square meals a day

Say Nigerian army

Na Mumu de join Military. Oga afar as you fought Umu Chineke your suffering has just begun.

Hello Mr! There is nothing bad in fighting for your country and defending her territory.
But the problem is when you start abusing innocent civilians and terrorising the young folks..

Fight for your country. It's a life of dedication

Quest7777:
Quick Poll:
How many Nigerians can sacrifice their lives for Nigeria?

LIKE for "I cannot die for Nigeria"
SHARE for "I can die for Nigeria"

What about those who click on both LIKE & SHARE? 😁😁😁

AlabiKILLER2023:
Sharia is needed in Yoruba land

chinedu

How does this relate with the topic?

Quest7777:
Quick Poll:
How many Nigerians can sacrifice their lives for Nigeria?

LIKE for "I cannot die for Nigeria"
SHARE for "I can die for Nigeria"

Will you die for Nigeria?

Quest7777:
Quick Poll:
How many Nigerians can sacrifice their lives for Nigeria?

LIKE for "I cannot die for Nigeria"
SHARE for "I can die for Nigeria"

I doubt if anyone can truly die for Nigeria.
Even Soldiers who die in combat were only doing their obligatory jobs they are being paid for. Not because they love Nigeria.
They wouldn't go to the war front if the had the option not to go.

Nigeria army to be precise.

I'm glad I ran away from training ground that year, I for don kpai by now or somewhere in northern desert.

A whole colonel. Why didn't he steal enough money so that when he retires, he wouldn't suffer?

Iweakbro:
Will you die for Nigeria?

Why? Out of all things one can die for

Someone said, that u can't served Nigeria and not be disgraced.

This is it.

I remembered something that happened in my office three years ago,and that event shocked me brutally.

A woman who retired in my office came back hawking sweet and biscuits...honestly,I didn't sleep throughout that night.

I was dead scared.
Nigeria has no respect for retirees.

Instead of Joining our Nigerian Army, Be a Security Guard, even in a BROTHEL.

At least, If Dem nor Pay your Monthly Salary, U will still be receiving some 'Freebies' from the Job

Quest7777:
Quick Poll:
How many Nigerians can sacrifice their lives for Nigeria?

LIKE for "I cannot die for Nigeria"
SHARE for "I can die for Nigeria"

I cannot die for Nigeria, it makes no sense to me.

The Nigerian ARMY, the FORCES that fought at Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The ECOMOG☹️

It just a pity when you remember the glory days of our Military 😣😣🌹🌹

Moral dey low now.
Government should do something to improve the lives of veterans to motivate the upcoming.

Quest7777:
Quick Poll:
How many Nigerians can sacrifice their lives for Nigeria?

LIKE for "I cannot die for Nigeria"
SHARE for "I can die for Nigeria"

That lonely and solitary share must be helinus!

Hehe....

Anyways, me go recommend that you get a business email + website!
Checky mi signature.

AlabiKILLER2023:
Sharia is needed in Yoruba land

Supported!

let us all be mad 2geda!

SmartPolician:
Only a foolish veteran allows his children join security operatives in Nigeria.

….Or one suffering from amnesia!

But you will recommend if you had become COAS