
Colonel Nasiru Salami (retired), a 76-year-old Nigerian civil war veteran, has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the treatment of retired personnel by military leadership.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief to commemorate the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Salami highlighted the struggles faced by veterans, including unpaid war bonuses and inadequate post-retirement support.
Salami recounted his enlistment in the Nigerian Army in October 1967, followed by immediate deployment to the Biafra war just six weeks after training. He spent 11 months on the frontlines during the civil war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970. Despite losing his right foot in battle and undergoing amputation, he returned to the frontlines to continue serving his country.
Now serving as the Secretary of the Nigerian Legion, Lagos Chapter, Salami lamented the neglect faced by veterans, sharing that promises of post-service benefits have not been fulfilled.
When asked about encouraging his children to join the Nigerian Army, Salami was unequivocal in his response.
“At this moment, I cannot recommend that any of my children join the Nigerian Army,” he said. “I am their father, and they see my struggles. My life is not up to their expectations. They would want me to be in a better position, full of joy and comfort. How would I encourage them to join the army?”
Salami revealed that two of his children are graduates, but he discouraged them from considering a career in the army, suggesting they explore the Navy or Air Force instead.
Salami revealed that over 50 years after the civil war, he and his fellow veterans have not received promised war bonuses or other benefits.
“We are asking for war bonuses, those of us who fought the war,” he said. “I retired in December 1983, and they promised us heaven and earth, but up till now, we have not seen it.”
He also pointed out that the Nigerian Legion in Lagos alone has over 24,000 members, many of whom face similar challenges.
Salami appealed to the government to honor its commitments to war veterans by improving their welfare and fulfilling promises of post-service benefits.
“The government should do the needful,” he said. “They should not wait until we are no longer here to recognize our sacrifices.”
Salami’s heartfelt testimony sheds light on the plight of Nigerian veterans, emphasizing the need for the government to address their welfare concerns and fulfill long-overdue promises to those who risked their lives in service to the nation.