The Nigerian military, also known as Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF), consists of three uniformed bodies. They are the Nigerian Airforce, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army. The question is, are the military combat-ready?
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How Combat Ready Are the Nigerian Military?
The readiness of the Nigerian military is not questionable at all. Their readiness is relative. The adage of the Isokos that you only spit on your palm when you have something to cut is applicable here.
You can only talk of the real combat readiness of the Nigerian military when there is war ahead of them. Yes, they should always be ready. That is exactly what they are made for.Nigerian Military Readiness
Wake up the lion when it is sleeping. When it wakes up, you will know that it is a lion. Whether sleeping or awake, a lion is always a lion. That is its nature.
In the same vein, a military person is a military person. When you see him on the street walking quietly, you think there is nothing he can do. Let the war come, then give him a gun. It is then that you will know that he is a military person.
The Nigerian military started its existence in 1960. Since then, the only real war that they have fought is the Nigerian-Biafra war of 1967-1970. They won that war. Then, they were in their primitive stage.
Today, the Nigerian military has risen above that level. They are in their jet age. Therefore, nobody can question their readiness.
The Nigerian army is well trained and equipped to fight any battle on land. They fight any war that comes to Nigeria by land.
The Nigerian Navy are specially trained and equipped to fight any war that comes to Nigeria by water. They are on alert in the waterways. Nobody dares to penetrate Nigerian territory by water. They are there to catch up with that person.
The Air Force branch of the Nigerian military is responsible for any war in the air. They are well trained and equipped for this purpose. People cannot question their readiness.
Which branch of the Nigerian military can its readiness be questioned? There is none. They are in the world. They read about what their mates are doing outside Nigeria. They watch their television to see how other soldiers are fighting their wars.
They learn through computer simulations. They know how to fight on land, water and air. They are ever ready to do what they are trained for.
If the Nigerian military is battle-ready, what of the security challenges in Nigeria? Have they been able to overcome Boko Haram? What of the armed bandits and the kidnappers, have they been able to stop them and protect Nigeria against them?
What many people do not know is the fact that the Nigerian military is not meant to fight internal insecurity activities. They only intervene when things are out of hand. The police are meant for the internal protection of Nigerians.
Nevertheless, where the police cannot withstand what they have in hand, they invite the army to help them. Take the eastern region for example. When the killings there became too much, the army went there to declare operation python dance. How did the dance go? Only the eastern people can testify to that.
Therefore, insecurity challenges in Nigeria cannot be used to judge the readiness of the Nigerian military. These are not wars per se; they are problems that all Nigerians should be ready to solve. These problems cannot be left to the soldiers alone.JAMB Form
Do you know where Boko Haram terrorists live? Where do the armed bandits and kidnappers live? The military can only fight against those whom they know their abode.
Those who are ready to face them in battle, not those who hide their identity. They cannot fight those who come out only at the night. They are human beings. They sleep when others are sleeping.
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The Nigerian Military Reforms
Whatever be the case, reformation in the Nigerian military is overdue. There is no doubt that some things are wrong in the Nigerian military. Corruption activities abound there. The military does not use the funds allocated to it properly.Information Guide Nigeria
The president is the general head of the military. He should scrutinize it with the help of his legislature. They should call for suggestions from the public on the operations of the military.
Thus, the president and his legislative arm can find out how the military is performing. Some people are within the armed forces who should tell the president the truth.How to Complain to WAEC and be heard
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate corruption allegations within the military. Any personnel of the military that they find guilty should face the full wrath of the law.
Another area of the military that needs reformation is the training section. The legislature should oversee the admission process. They should see to the training institutions. They should make sure that there are adequate facilities in the institutions. There should be qualified instructors in the training institutions. The training materials and equipment should be up-to-date.
Most importantly, the federal government should motivate the military. It should provide enough funds for them. Those who sacrifice their lives for the nation require good welfare. The federal government should take good care of them. It should give scholarships to the children of the dead ones. They should take good care of their wives.
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New Equipment for the Nigerian Military
The readiness of the Nigerian military is further proven by the fact that they now have new equipment. The Nigerian Army alone now has new 60 armoured personnel. Nigeria is reported to be “the largest importer of military equipment in sub-Saharan Africa.” That shows the extent to which the Nigerian military has gone in preparing for any combat.How to input WAEC result into Jamb
The Nigerian Air Force has new aircrafts that are capable of waging any air war.
The Navy also has new warships that they can use to fight any battle that comes to Nigeria through the waterways.
Therefore, you can see that no part of the military that is left out. They are all ready for war.JAMB Result
Apart from all these new war equipment for the Nigerian military, the president is encouraging local production of war equipment. Until the civil war, nobody knew that the Igbo man could produce a bomb. They called it “Ogbu n’igwe”, meaning killer in mass. This means that the Nigerian military is ready for war as far as equipment is concerned.
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The Nigerian Military Personnel
According to en.wikipedia.com, “The Nigerian military is one of the largest uniformed combat services in Africa.” According to Global Fire Power, “The Nigerian Armed Forces are the fourth most powerful military in Africa and ranked 35th on its list internationally.”Npower Recruitment
Where then is the Nigerian military lacking? These are men who had waged foreign wars. They were the champions of the Liberian war of 1990. They fought in the Gambia in 2017 and came back victorious. There is no way that the Nigerian military can be underrated
Nigerian Military Challenges
There is no doubt that the Nigerian military has some challenges. These include:
- Corruption
- Insufficient resources
- Political manipulations
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Prospects of the Nigerian Military
The future is very bright for the Nigerian military. With the United States on their part, the United Kingdom on their part and the Chinese on their part, the Nigerian military have nothing to fear.WAEC Result
Conclusion
From all indications, the Nigerian military is combat-ready. They have all that it takes to wage any war.
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