A Nigerian soldier has called out President Bola Tinubu for awarding N150 million to the Super Falcons and D’Tigress basketball team, while soldiers on the frontlines of the country’s security battles continue to receive meager salaries.
In a video circulating online, the visibly frustrated soldier expressed deep disappointment, stating that despite risking their lives daily in counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations across Nigeria, many soldiers still earn just ₦100,000 a month.
“How can you give footballers and basketball players ₦150 million while soldiers who defend this country with their lives are paid peanuts?” the soldier lamented. “We are out here in the bush, sleeping in trenches, getting attacked by terrorists, and all we get is ₦100k a month?”
Recall that President Tinubu recently rewarded the Nigerian women’s football team and and the Basketball team, D’Tigress for their outstanding performances in recent international tournaments. While the gesture was applauded by sports enthusiasts, it has drawn backlash from some Nigerians who believe frontline security personnel deserve equal or greater recognition and welfare support.
Nigeria’s armed forces have long complained of poor remuneration, lack of adequate equipment, and delayed benefits, despite their central role in combating terrorism, banditry, and separatist violence.
