A Case for Due Recognition of Nigeria’s Combat Soldiers and their Commanders
By Chidi Omeje
In the ongoing struggle to secure Nigeria from the clutches of insurgency, terrorism, and banditry, one of the most overlooked but critical elements is the recognition of individual gallantry and sacrifice by those on the frontline.
While much is said about the Nigerian Army’s resilience and operational successes, too little is done to highlight and reward the very people, the boots on the ground, who execute these hard-won victories.
A respected security analyst, during a recent workshop on the effectiveness of internal security operations, made a telling observation: that the Army often prioritizes credit for top-level figures in air-conditioned offices while neglecting to shine a light on those who actually face the bullets.
This systemic failure to celebrate the true combatants does more harm than many realize. It breeds disillusionment, lowers morale, and reinforces the damaging narrative that the nation does not value its defenders.
It is no secret that Nigeria’s military personnel operate under some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. Many officers and soldiers have demonstrated extraordinary bravery, resilience, and leadership in the face of hostile adversaries. Yet, when national honours are rolled out each year, very few names from the battlefield appear.
Gallantry awards, if given at all, are often buried in internal memos instead of being celebrated publicly to inspire pride and patriotism.
It took the brilliance and foresight of a Nigerian patriot and publisher of PRNigeria, Yushau Shuaibu, to institute the Security and Emergency Management Awards (SAEMA), an annual awards that recognizes outstanding gallantry, rescue efforts, safety measures, teamwork, and immense contributions to safety in Nigeria, for Nigerians to about some of the gallant commanders and soldiers in the field.
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For instance, but for SAEMA Awards, there would have been no way that the exploits of the likes of Lt Col Ponfa Andrew Wuyep or Lt Col Ishaya Aliyu Manga – courageous officers whose exceptional heroic efforts in the war against Boko Haram terrorists in the North east, come to limelight. Both Wuyep and Manga won SAEMA’s gallant officer of year for 2021 and 2022 respectively.
While the Military Pensions Board has done relatively well in processing pensions, special benefits for combat casualties, such as death and disability compensation, are not only poorly managed but shrouded in bureaucratic opacity. Worse still, these compensations are rarely publicized, denying the public the chance to appreciate the real cost of the country’s fragile peace and the lives laid down to preserve it.
Recognition is more than ceremony; it is strategy. It sends a clear message that sacrifice is not in vain. At a time when the average Nigerian feels disconnected from government, and soldiers feel increasingly isolated and underappreciated, the symbolic power of public recognition can be a game-changer. It reaffirms the nation’s gratitude, boosts morale, and enhances operational effectiveness.
To correct this imbalance, the Nigerian military, and indeed the government, must institutionalize a transparent, visible, and consistent culture of honour. This means:
Publicizing and rewarding individual acts of bravery at national levels; ensuring that gallantry awards, commendations, and battlefield promotions receive wide media coverage; fast-tracking and publicizing benefits to families of the fallen and injured; including deserving combatants in the annual national honours list, and creating a Hall of Fame or digital archive to document and share stories of heroism.
The time has come to stop rewarding only the ranks and start recognizing the roles. The soldier in the trench and the commander in the field deserve more than medals filed away in obscurity; they deserve the nation’s voice raised in their honour.
Let Nigeria say clearly and loudly: We see you, we salute you, and we will never forget you.
*Chidi Omeje is the publisher of Security Digest (www.securitydigestng.com)
