Dismissed corporal: Soldiers not given uniform, boots yet salaries not enough to buy

What is meant to be standard military provision has instead become a matter of personal spending, according to a dismissed Nigerian soldier whose claims are now stirring renewed debate over welfare conditions in the armed forces. Rotimi Olamilekan, a former lance corporal popularly known online as Soja Boi, says serving personnel in the Nigerian Army […]

What is meant to be standard military provision has instead become a matter of personal spending, according to a dismissed Nigerian soldier whose claims are now stirring renewed debate over welfare conditions in the armed forces.

Rotimi Olamilekan, a former lance corporal popularly known online as Soja Boi, says serving personnel in the Nigerian Army are often left to purchase their own uniforms, boots, and even protective equipment, despite working in some of the country’s most dangerous conflict zones.

Olamilekan, who served under the 81 Division Task Force Battalion in Borno State, made the allegations during an interview on the Honest Brunch Podcast, where activist Omoyele Sowore also featured.

He said the reality of military life, as he experienced it, was far removed from public perception of structured provision and support.

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“As a soldier… them dey pay me like N109,000 or N111,000. Before, it was even N51,000,” he said, referring to his final salary before dismissal in March.

Even with allowances, he said earnings rarely translated into stability.

“The suffer no be small. Apart from the salary, nothing more. Nothing dey enter for you as a soldier,” he added.

Central to his claims is the allegation that basic military kits are not issued as standard.

Instead, he said soldiers fund them from their own pockets.

When asked directly about uniforms, he responded: “No, they don’t give uniforms now. Ask any soldier. They buy them.”

He further broke down “the cost burden”, saying uniforms can cost about “N55,000 while boots may reach N60,000 per pair”, effectively consuming an entire month’s pay.

“You go buy uniform, you go buy boots, you go buy everything you want to use,” he said.

Aside uniforms, Olamilekan also alleged that protective gear such as bulletproof vests and helmets are largely unavailable to ordinary troops, except during rare official visits or special occasions.

“I swear, nobody will give you,” he said when asked about protective equipment.

According to him, such items are sometimes borrowed or temporarily deployed when senior officials or state dignitaries are expected in operational areas.

“If you see soldier wearing am, maybe na big visitor dey come… dem go just carry am bring,” he claimed.

He also painted a grim picture of frontline deployments, alleging that troops in areas like Sambisa operate without adequate protection.

“If anything happen, na you go first face am without bulletproof,” he said.

Olamilekan further recounted serving in Maiduguri for over four years, claiming that standard rotation timelines were not observed in practice.

“They say two years before rotation… but I don do four years, nine months,” he submitted.

The former soldier first drew national attention in February 2026 after releasing a viral video urging political leaders to allow their children to join the military ranks.

“In this country, make all governors, senators, ministers bring their sons join Nigerian Army… make dem see wetin we dey see,” he said.

He was later arrested and detained for several weeks before being released, a development that triggered the #FreeSojaBoi campaign online.

Following his release, he claimed his dismissal was linked to his earlier public criticism of military conditions.

“I was arrested and dismissed because of a video I made calling politicians’ children to join the army,” he said.

The Nigerian Army has not issued a detailed response to the specific allegations.

However, its spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anaele, said the matter would be addressed formally, noting that an official statement was being prepared.