Civil war veteran, Col. Nasiru Salami (retd), has expressed his disappointment over the poor treatment of Nigerian Army retirees, highlighting the challenges faced by veterans. The 76-year-old shared his concerns during a guest appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Salami, who enlisted in the Nigerian Army in October 1967 and was deployed to the battlefield just six weeks later during the Biafra War, recounted his painful experiences. He served 11 months on the frontlines during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) and sustained a life-altering injury to his right foot, but continued fighting despite the injury.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Salami said he would never recommend his children join the army due to the hardships he endured. “For now, I will never recommend any of my children to join the Nigerian Army,” he stated. “I am their father, and they see me now, my life is not to their expectation. How would I encourage them to join the army?”
Salami, now the Secretary of the Nigerian Legion in Lagos, also disclosed that he has two graduate children and advised them to consider other branches like the Navy or Air Force, which he believes offer better treatment.
He further highlighted that the Nigerian Legion in Lagos has over 24,000 members, many of whom, like himself, are still waiting for promised war bonuses and post-retirement benefits. “We are asking for a war bonus, those of us who fought the war. I retired in December 1983, and they promised us heaven and earth, but we still haven’t seen it,” he lamented, calling on the government to fulfill its promises to veterans.
