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Salah: Prices of rams shoot up, sell N200,000 to N250,000

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Salah: Prices of rams shoot up, sell N200,000 to N250,000

Ahead of the forthcoming Eid-el Kabir celebration, prices of animals used for sacrifice during the annual festival have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many celebrants, Daily Trust Saturday reports.

Every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the world who have the means, slaughter animals like sheep, goat, cow or camel – to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God.

While it is not the only livestock acceptable, a narration in Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sought out horned, white rams to sacrifice during the Eid el-Kabir, as the ram of Prophet Ibrahim had been.

At least, one third of the meat from the animal should go to the poor or vulnerable people.

Like that of ram, prices of cow and camel have also hit the roof top, as findings by our correspondents revealed.

The hike in the cost of basic commodities in Nigeria has reflected itself boldly in the livestock sector, a situation that is likely to deny average Muslims the means to partake in the annual sacrifice amidst economic crunch.

Findings by Daily Trust Saturday in Abuja, Kano, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, among others, showed that the cost of rams currently hover between N150,000 and N1 million, depending on the size and the location one is buying from.

Stakeholders interviewed blamed the situation on the insecurity around some major rearing states in the North West and North East, devaluation of the naira as well as withdrawal of fuel subsidy, which have in addition affected the price of animal feeds and the cost of transportation.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, had declared Friday, June 7, 2024, as the First Day of Dhul Hijjah 1445AH and Sunday, June 16th, which will be equivalent to the 10th of Dhul Hijjah will be marked as this year’s Eid-El-Kabir.

Low patronage in Abuja

Few days to the Sallah celebration, sales have yet to pick up as noticed during a visit to the Abuja main livestock market located in the Dei-Dei area in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

This is a sharp contrast with the past when the market served as a rallying point for suppliers and off-takers well ahead of the Sallah festivity.

A livestock merchant in the market, Uzairu Dan-Kudalo, said that the insecurity problem bedevilling some major rearing states, like Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina, is affecting the sector, sending many stakeholders out of the business.

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“I know a lot of our members from Zamfara State that lost their capital to this problem just in one fell swoop, after their communities were attacked by bandits or run into their trap along the way. You can see how our animals’ stalls look empty, and it is less than 10 days to the Sallah festivity.

“From Zamfara State alone, we used to receive a supply of no less than 30 trailers during this period, with each trailer loading between 200 and 250 rams,” he said.

“This does not include other mini trucks like canter, which used to supply without getting any attention. But as I am talking to you today, we are yet to receive any kind of supply from there. If you are talking about other states, by this time, a single merchant alone from other states like Kano, Jigawa, or Yobe, would supply about 200 rams into the market. However, many of them can no longer afford a capital of 50 rams now, due to the cost of transportation and the naira devaluation”, he said.

He said bulk buyers and individuals were also not forthcoming.

“By now, I would have finished with the supply of rams to all my regular customers who may decide to keep the animals here, or transport them to their agency, for onward distribution among the beneficiaries. But I am yet to witness this gesture so far,” he said.

Another trader, Yahuza Abdullahi, said that some of them that usually travel to the neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad, or Cameroun to supply the animals are now constrained as a result of the naira devaluation, which according to him has given an edge to the traders that come from the Francophone currency nations.

“Their currency (CFA) has greater value compared to the naira, and as such, nothing you can buy from those countries and expect to make any gain out of it there.

“Rather, the traders of those countries stand to gain a lot when they convert their currency to naira and export our commodities,” he said.

The price of ram has either tripled or doubled when compared with how it went last year.

The same thing goes to the animal feed and cost of transportation.

Given the breakdown of ram price, based on their categories, a trader, Abdullahi Adamu, said the smallest animal that attained the level of sacrifice currently sold between N120,000 and N150,000.

He said such categories of rams were sold between N70,000 and N100,000 last year.

According to him, a middle-sized ram, which sold between N150,000 and N180,000 last year now costs between N250,000 and N300,000.

There are also jumbo-sized rams, which cost from N800,000 and N1.4 million.

Same rams were said to be sold last year, at the rate of N500,000, while the biggest of all, sold at N1.1 million last year.

The same scenario is playing out at the animals’ feed commodity.

A breakdown of the commodity in the market indicates that a bag of animals’ feed extracted from raw beans is now sold between N13,000 and N14,000 per bag, depending on product quality and location. This is in contrast to the N7,000 to N8,000 sold last year.

Same goes to the dried groundnut leaves, which are currently sold at between N5,000 and N6,000, compared to previous year, when it was sold at between N3,500 and N4,000.

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For the harvested corn by-product, its bag costs between N6,000 and N7,000, compared to the previous price of N4,000 and N4,500.

A bag of grounded maize by-product, or dusa in Hausa, is sold at between N18,000 and N20,000, compared to its previous price of N9,000 to N10,000 last year.

In the transportation sector, the traders said a canter truck supplying rams from Katsina or Kano that they paid between N200,000 and N250,000 last year, now goes for between N400,000 to N500,000.

Same truck transporting the animals from either Adamawa or Yobe states in the North East costs around N700,000, in contrast to between N400,000 and N500,000 paid in the past.

It was further learnt that transporting rams in trailer trucks from Mubi, in Adamawa State, a town neighbouring Cameroon Republic, now costs up to N1.5 million, as against last year’s N800,000.

They’re beyond our reach

An Abuja resident, Alhaji Shuaib Hassan who went to buy ram at the livestock market on Wednesday, left there disappointed, as according to him, the N200,000 he budgeted for the kind of ram he bought at N150,000 last year could not get him a ram as it now costs N300,000.

He said he was contemplating returning to the market on Saturday when more traders, especially those from the rural areas, are expected to arrive.

Sani Yusuf said he found succour when he bought two rams at his home town of Bichi, in Kano State, two months ago.

“I bought them at the rate of N150,000, and so far, I have sent about N10,000 for their feeding. I am expecting to pay an additional N10,000 for their transportation from the area to Abuja in the company of other animals tomorrow,” he said.

There was the same lamentation from some roadside ram markets visited in the neighbouring Niger State.

A ram trader in Suleja town in the state, Abubakar Kwamba, predicted the likely drop in ram supply, as well as patronage of buyers this year, owing to the present economic reality.

“We are about 20 traders that supplied ram to this makeshift market last year. But as I am speaking to you now, there are only three of us that arrived, and still with lower supply, compared to what we brought last year. I could only afford to buy 12 rams this year, against 20 that I bought last year”, he said.

Sale outlets springing up in Kano

Roadside livestock markets are springing up in Kano, our correspondent reports.

At Kofar Naisa, where the sacrificial animals are available for would-be buyers, a trader, Yusuf Sani said they were bringing the animals from outside the state, in the hope of making little profit.

He said that the economic situation in the country makes everything look bleak at the moment, but he was hopeful that in the next few days, the market will record improved patronage.

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He said the price of a big ram starts from N400,000, while medium-sized ones go for N300,000.  A small-sized ram costs N100,000.

Another ram seller, Aminu Gwagwarmaya from Hauran Makaranta, said with N150,000, one can get a modest ram in the market.

Hajiya Ummah Kulthum Muhammad Lawan was seen at one of the markets.

She said the money she used and bought many rams last year, which she shared with relatives, will not give her half the number this time around.

“The price for each ram has almost tripled and only God can see us through,” she said.

At the Kofar Naisa Market, the price of camels range from N780,000, depending on the size.

It is permissible for three to seven people to contribute money to buy a camel or a cow for sacrifice and share the meat, clerics said.

The situation in Jigawa State is the same as merchants at Dutse temporary animals’ market lament low patronage.

One of them, Shafiu Hamisu, said scarcity of rams in the state has forced them to resort to buying from neighbouring states.

He said the prices of rams have increased significantly, with a big ram now selling for between N200,000 and N250,000, compared to less than N120,000 in 2023.

Sani Muhammad Bashir, a buyer at Dutse temporary ram market, said he will manage to buy the ram, though the price is very costly.

He called on the government to look into the matter and make things easy for the masses by finding ways to tackle inflation and provision of affordable means of transportation.

Yobe traders in a fix

In Yobe State, livestock sellers have decried low patronage of the sacrificial animal ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir.

The sellers said buyers are reluctant to come forward, saying this may not be unconnected with the high cost of the animals at a time people were struggling to buy food for their families.

The few buyers seen were lamenting over the price of ram and cow, which has increased significantly compared with last year.

A buyer at the livestock market in Potiskum, Adamu Umar, told Daily Trust Saturday that “A cow that you can buy at the cost of N400,000 last year, has now been increased to N650,000, while a bull, which we used to buy at N1,000,000 has now skyrocketed to N1,600,000.

“The situation of the market is not encouraging and by the body language of the buyers, you will understand that many people will not slaughter cows this year,” he said.

MD Adechu, a buyer from Lagos told Daily Trust Saturday that cattle are very expensive even though the Potiskum market is one of the largest livestock markets in the North.

“I don’t know what is happening; please, our government should make things easy for the masses and its citizens”, he said.

Abubakar Usman, a dealer said the price of a medium-sized ram starts from N100,000.

Another ram seller, Alhaji Zakari Yau, told Daily Trust Saturday that most of the buyers are from the southern part of the country.

In Lagos, Abduwasiu Ibrahim, a middleman, said rams and cattle are cheaper in the North.

“The ram that you can buy for N120,000 will cost you around N220,000 here; and a cow of N1,000,000 in the North will be sold at around N1,500,000 here,” he said.

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He said the situation is the same in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Uyo.

“The reason is the cost of transportation and other challenges on the highway. You have to pay a lot of money to many tax collectors,” he said.

The same thing goes to the animal feed and cost of transportation.

Given the breakdown of ram price, based on their categories, a trader, Abdullahi Adamu, said the smallest animal that attained the level of sacrifice currently sold between N120,000 and N150,000.

He said such categories of rams were sold between N70,000 and N100,000 last year.

According to him, a middle-sized ram, which sold between N150,000 and N180,000 last year now costs between N250,000 and N300,000.

There are also jumbo-sized rams, which cost from N800,000 and N1.4 million.

Same rams were said to be sold last year, at the rate of N500,000, while the biggest of all, sold at N1.1 million last year.

The same scenario is playing out at the animals’ feed commodity.

A breakdown of the commodity in the market indicates that a bag of animals’ feed extracted from raw beans is now sold between N13,000 and N14,000 per bag, depending on product quality and location. This is in contrast to the N7,000 to N8,000 sold last year.

Same goes to the dried groundnut leaves, which are currently sold at between N5,000 and N6,000, compared to previous year, when it was sold at between N3,500 and N4,000.

For the harvested corn by-product, its bag costs between N6,000 and N7,000, compared to the previous price of N4,000 and N4,500.

A bag of grounded maize by-product, or dusa in Hausa, is sold at between N18,000 and N20,000, compared to its previous price of N9,000 to N10,000 last year.

In the transportation sector, the traders said a canter truck supplying rams from Katsina or Kano that they paid between N200,000 and N250,000 last year, now goes for between N400,000 to N500,000.

Same truck transporting the animals from either Adamawa or Yobe states in the North East costs around N700,000, in contrast to between N400,000 and N500,000 paid in the past.

It was further learnt that transporting rams in trailer trucks from Mubi, in Adamawa State, a town neighbouring Cameroon Republic, now costs up to N1.5 million, as against last year’s N800,000.

They’re beyond our reach

An Abuja resident, Alhaji Shuaib Hassan who went to buy ram at the livestock market on Wednesday, left there disappointed, as according to him, the N200,000 he budgeted for the kind of ram he bought at N150,000 last year could not get him a ram as it now costs N300,000.

He said he was contemplating returning to the market on Saturday when more traders, especially those from the rural areas, are expected to arrive.

Sani Yusuf said he found succour when he bought two rams at his home town of Bichi, in Kano State, two months ago.

“I bought them at the rate of N150,000, and so far, I have sent about N10,000 for their feeding. I am expecting to pay an additional N10,000 for their transportation from the area to Abuja in the company of other animals tomorrow,” he said.

There was the same lamentation from some roadside ram markets visited in the neighbouring Niger State.

READ ALSO:

A ram trader in Suleja town in the state, Abubakar Kwamba, predicted the likely drop in ram supply, as well as patronage of buyers this year, owing to the present economic reality.

“We are about 20 traders that supplied ram to this makeshift market last year. But as I am speaking to you now, there are only three of us that arrived, and still with lower supply, compared to what we brought last year. I could only afford to buy 12 rams this year, against 20 that I bought last year”, he said.

Sale outlets springing up in Kano

Roadside livestock markets are springing up in Kano, our correspondent reports.

At Kofar Naisa, where the sacrificial animals are available for would-be buyers, a trader, Yusuf Sani said they were bringing the animals from outside the state, in the hope of making little profit.

He said that the economic situation in the country makes everything look bleak at the moment, but he was hopeful that in the next few days, the market will record improved patronage.

He said the price of a big ram starts from N400,000, while medium-sized ones go for N300,000.  A small-sized ram costs N100,000.

Another ram seller, Aminu Gwagwarmaya from Hauran Makaranta, said with N150,000, one can get a modest ram in the market.

Hajiya Ummah Kulthum Muhammad Lawan was seen at one of the markets.

She said the money she used and bought many rams last year, which she shared with relatives, will not give her half the number this time around.

“The price for each ram has almost tripled and only God can see us through,” she said.

At the Kofar Naisa Market, the price of camels range from N780,000, depending on the size.

It is permissible for three to seven people to contribute money to buy a camel or a cow for sacrifice and share the meat, clerics said.

The situation in Jigawa State is the same as merchants at Dutse temporary animals’ market lament low patronage.

One of them, Shafiu Hamisu, said scarcity of rams in the state has forced them to resort to buying from neighbouring states.

He said the prices of rams have increased significantly, with a big ram now selling for between N200,000 and N250,000, compared to less than N120,000 in 2023.

Sani Muhammad Bashir, a buyer at Dutse temporary ram market, said he will manage to buy the ram, though the price is very costly.

He called on the government to look into the matter and make things easy for the masses by finding ways to tackle inflation and provision of affordable means of transportation.

Yobe traders in a fix

In Yobe State, livestock sellers have decried low patronage of the sacrificial animal ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir.

The sellers said buyers are reluctant to come forward, saying this may not be unconnected with the high cost of the animals at a time people were struggling to buy food for their families.

The few buyers seen were lamenting over the price of ram and cow, which has increased significantly compared with last year.

READ ALSO:

A buyer at the livestock market in Potiskum, Adamu Umar, told Daily Trust Saturday that “A cow that you can buy at the cost of N400,000 last year, has now been increased to N650,000, while a bull, which we used to buy at N1,000,000 has now skyrocketed to N1,600,000.

“The situation of the market is not encouraging and by the body language of the buyers, you will understand that many people will not slaughter cows this year,” he said.

MD Adechu, a buyer from Lagos told Daily Trust Saturday that cattle are very expensive even though the Potiskum market is one of the largest livestock markets in the North.

“I don’t know what is happening; please, our government should make things easy for the masses and its citizens”, he said.

Abubakar Usman, a dealer said the price of a medium-sized ram starts from N100,000.

Another ram seller, Alhaji Zakari Yau, told Daily Trust Saturday that most of the buyers are from the southern part of the country.

In Lagos, Abduwasiu Ibrahim, a middleman, said rams and cattle are cheaper in the North.

“The ram that you can buy for N120,000 will cost you around N220,000 here; and a cow of N1,000,000 in the North will be sold at around N1,500,000 here,” he said.

He said the situation is the same in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Uyo.

“The reason is the cost of transportation and other challenges on the highway. You have to pay a lot of money to many tax collectors,” he said.

Salah: Prices of rams shoot up, sell N200,000 to N250,000

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Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 3,252 Verified PTA Teachers into Federal Civil Service

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August 7, 2026

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Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 3,252 Verified PTA Teachers into Federal Civil Service

Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 3,252 Verified PTA Teachers into Federal Civil Service

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service, a landmark decision that ends years of uncertainty for thousands of educators who have kept classrooms running in Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria. The approval, announced on Thursday by Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa, represents one of the most significant interventions by the current administration to address the persistent shortage of teaching personnel in federal secondary schools. The Minister described the decision as a major milestone that reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to revitalising the education sector and investing in the country’s future through improved teaching and learning. According to the minister, priority will be given to absorbing verified PTA teachers, many of whom have served in Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for nearly 25 years without being absorbed into the mainstream public service. “This is a President who cares deeply for Nigeria and for the future of our country,” Alausa stated. “The President has approved the recruitment of teachers. Priority will be given to absorbing verified PTA teachers, many of whom have served in our Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for almost 25 years. This approval provides them with the opportunity to become part of the mainstream public service.”

Dr Alausa explained that the approval followed a comprehensive verification exercise conducted by an Inter-Ministerial Committee, which carefully screened eligible PTA teachers across Federal Unity Colleges nationwide. The exercise verified 3,252 teachers across the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors, paving the way for their regularisation upon completion of all statutory requirements. The minister noted that the recruitment represents another milestone in the implementation of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that it would significantly improve teacher-to-student ratios in Federal Unity Colleges while recognising the dedication of PTA teachers who have continued to serve despite years of uncertainty over their employment status. The minister added that integrating experienced PTA teachers into the federal public service would help preserve institutional knowledge, strengthen classroom instruction and improve learning outcomes across the colleges. He noted that the recruitment aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to enhance teaching quality and restore Federal Unity Colleges as centres of academic excellence. Dr Alausa also reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to collaborate with relevant government agencies to complete the outstanding statutory procedures required for the issuance of final letters of appointment in line with existing public service regulations. He assured the verified PTA teachers that the ministry would ensure the regularisation exercise is concluded transparently, fairly and in strict compliance with due process and established public service rules.

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For many years, Federal Unity Colleges have relied heavily on PTA teachers engaged and paid by Parent-Teacher Associations to bridge chronic staffing gaps caused by inadequate recruitment into the federal teaching service. Many of these teachers have worked in the colleges for between 10 and 25 years without permanent appointments, despite performing the same classroom responsibilities as regular government-employed teachers, and without pension benefits or employment security available to regular civil servants. Successive administrations received appeals from the affected teachers and education stakeholders to regularise their appointments, arguing that the prolonged reliance on PTA-funded staff placed a financial burden on parents and created job insecurity for thousands of qualified teachers. The minister stressed that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers, and that investing in teachers remains critical to building a stronger and more competitive education system. He commended the PTA teachers for their resilience and commitment to duty despite the uncertainty surrounding their employment status. The recruitment approval has been widely welcomed by education stakeholders and the affected teachers, who have long campaigned for regularisation of their appointments.

The recruitment of 3,252 PTA teachers into the Federal Civil Service represents a significant boost for the country’s education sector. By absorbing experienced educators who have already demonstrated their competence in the classroom, the Federal Government is taking a strategic approach to addressing the teacher shortage in Federal Unity Colleges. The move is expected to improve the quality of education in these institutions, reduce the financial burden on parents who have been funding PTA teachers, and provide job security and benefits for thousands of dedicated educators. The regularisation of these teachers also sets a precedent for addressing similar challenges in other sectors where contract or PTA-funded staff have been providing essential services without proper recognition or benefits.

Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 3,252 Verified PTA Teachers into Federal Civil Service

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Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon appointed medical director of US hospital

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August 6, 2026

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Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon appointed medical director of US hospital
Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon, Dr. Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu-Ibrahim

Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon appointed medical director of US hospital

Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon, Dr. Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu-Ibrahim, has achieved another major career milestone after being appointed Medical Director of a children’s hospital in the United States, earning widespread commendation from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the medical community.

The appointment further strengthens Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s pioneering medical professionals and highlights the growing impact of Nigerian healthcare experts on the global stage.

The development was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by NiDCOM through its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Reacting to the appointment, NiDCOM Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described it as another remarkable achievement for Nigerians living abroad and a testament to the outstanding contributions of Nigerian professionals across the world.

She said Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim’s emergence as Medical Director reflects the excellence, resilience and professionalism that continue to distinguish Nigerians in the diaspora in various sectors.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, the appointment demonstrates that excellence transcends gender, race and religion while serving as an inspiration to young Nigerians—especially girls aspiring to pursue careers in medicine, science and other highly specialised professions.

She noted that Aliu-Ibrahim’s success also dispels stereotypes surrounding Muslim women and reinforces the message that faith and professional excellence can coexist.

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“Dr. Salamat Aliu-Ibrahim’s appointment is yet another reminder that Muslim women cover their hair, not their brains,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

“Her remarkable achievement demonstrates that faith and excellence are not mutually exclusive. She has become a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless young girls across Nigeria and beyond.”

Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim made history as Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon after completing her neurosurgical residency at the National Hospital, Abuja, becoming one of the country’s foremost pioneers in one of medicine’s most demanding specialties.

After relocating to the United States, she faced the challenge of securing a neurosurgery residency position under the American medical training system. Rather than abandon her medical career, she retrained in paediatrics and successfully established herself as a paediatrician.

Her resilience and determination have since earned her leadership responsibilities within the American healthcare system, culminating in her appointment as Medical Director of a children’s hospital.

Medical experts say her career journey reflects exceptional adaptability and commitment to patient care, demonstrating that professional success often requires resilience, continuous learning and the willingness to embrace new opportunities.

While celebrating the appointment, Dabiri-Erewa also expressed concern over the continued migration of highly skilled Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad in search of better career opportunities.

She acknowledged that Nigerians in the diaspora continue to make invaluable contributions to healthcare, research, innovation and public service across the world, but warned that the persistent migration of experienced doctors and other medical personnel continues to pose challenges for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

According to her, addressing issues relating to remuneration, welfare, working conditions and career development for healthcare workers remains essential to reducing the country’s brain drain.

She stressed that creating an enabling environment for medical professionals would encourage more experts to remain in Nigeria while strengthening the country’s healthcare system and improving service delivery.

Dabiri-Erewa commended Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim for projecting Nigeria positively through excellence, dedication and professionalism, expressing confidence that she would continue to make significant contributions to healthcare in her new leadership role.

She also reaffirmed NiDCOM‘s commitment to recognising and celebrating Nigerians in the diaspora whose outstanding achievements continue to enhance the country’s global image and inspire future generations.

Dr. Aliu-Ibrahim’s appointment adds to the growing list of Nigerian professionals occupying strategic leadership positions in healthcare institutions across the world, underscoring the country’s reputation for producing highly skilled medical experts who continue to excel internationally.

Nigeria’s first indigenous female neurosurgeon appointed medical director of US hospital

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Military Salary Hike Sparks Mixed Reactions as South-East Youths Weigh Enlistment

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August 6, 2026

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Military Salary Hike Sparks Mixed Reactions as South-East Youths Weigh Enlistment

Military Salary Hike Sparks Mixed Reactions as South-East Youths Weigh Enlistment

Young men in Nigeria’s South-East are reconsidering military enlistment following President Bola Tinubu’s approval of an 80% salary increase for junior ranks, though deep-seated distrust and historical grievances continue to shape attitudes toward service in the region. The Federal Government approved a salary increment of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, effective September 1, 2026. The decision increased the annual wage bill of the forces from N660 billion to N924 billion, adding N264 billion in personnel expenditure. Approximately 250,000 officers and soldiers will benefit from the new pay structure. Under the new salary structure, junior personnel from Private to Staff Sergeant will receive the highest adjustment of 80 per cent. Middle-level personnel and non-commissioned officers, from Warrant Officer to Colonel, will enjoy a 50 per cent increase, while officers above the rank of Colonel will receive a 30 per cent salary increase. The government also approved the recruitment of 28,000 new personnel into the armed forces and the creation of additional military divisions, as part of the Strategic Force Expansion Initiative aimed at strengthening operational capacity against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats.

While some young men in the region view the salary increase as an incentive to enlist, others remain reluctant due to concerns about career prospects, safety and the legacy of past military actions. Stephen Ezike, a bucket hawker from Okpoto in Ebonyi State, said he never wanted to join the military because his uncle retired without building a house. “He kept complaining that the injury he sustained in active service did not allow him to serve at war fronts where he could have gotten better allowances. My uncle currently works as a security man at a private university. He struggles to train his children. I hawk buckets, but I have built a house. I don’t want a job that I don’t know when I will die or not, and no guarantee that my children will go to school if I die early.” Ebubeagu Okoye, who sells used shoes, said with the increment, he would like to join the military. “Joining may not even be easy as such because there will be competition. Unemployment is much. Many will like to join. Because of the activities of bandits, the need for more recruitment has arisen. I will join because I’m a patriotic Nigerian. Let them also make entrance to the Nigerian Defence Academy easy for everybody. Rich men’s children go through NDA, and become officers. Ordinary Nigerians start as privates. That should stop if the military career is all about patriotism.” Mrs Dorothy Ekwueme said she would like her son to join, referring to two brothers who are Major Generals in the military. “These brothers are doing fine; we respect them. I like my son to become a soldier. But I don’t want my son to go to war. The way soldiers die makes me sad. Before, any place a soldier is attacked would be in trouble. Today, even Generals die carelessly.”

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Military authorities have repeatedly expressed concern over low enlistment in the South-East. Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, speaking at the passing-out parade of 2,989 recruits at the Amasiri-Edda Depot, directly appealed to Ndigbo to embrace military service. “To Ndi-Igbo, I wish to urge you to encourage your youths to take up their rightful place in the defence of our fatherland. For some time now, the recruitment quota for this zone has not been fully utilised. That should not continue. Military service is not just a career but an honourable endeavour of patriotism, leadership, and national contribution.” COAS Olufemi Oluyede, during an engagement with stakeholders in Umuahia, Abia State, similarly warned that when allocated slots are left vacant, they are eventually taken up by qualified applicants from other parts of the country, reducing the region’s representation in the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army has intensified its recruitment sensitisation campaign in the region, establishing the Amasiri-Edda Recruit Training Depot in Ebonyi State – the Army’s third training depot nationwide and the first in the South-East. The depot became operational on November 25, 2025. The Ebonyi graduates are part of the first batch of 14,000 out of 28,000 new soldiers approved by President Tinubu under the Federal Government’s Armed Forces Expansion Initiative.

A retired Assistant Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Edwin Ugwuja, said the increment would boost enlistment of South-East youths in the military. According to him, their aversion to the military stemmed from poor remuneration. “These youths understand the tenets of businesses. With the popular Igbo apprenticeship system, the young ones get established within some years. They will feel more comfortable to answer their own bosses than undergoing military assignments. But apart from serving your country as patriots, the military serves as an employment platform. The increment will boost the morale of the personnel and strength of troops who are fighting banditry and insurgency.” Dr Obi Eze, an industrial psychologist, called for more sensitisation to encourage Igbo youths to join the military. “Some parents still recollect the episodes of the Biafran War. Some young ones read negative literature of the war. They need to be informed that the military is a noble profession, established as a patriotic institution to preserve Nigeria’s unity. Check it, there are many children of senior military officers in the military. If it were a bad career, you wouldn’t have seen them there.”

Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has argued that the reluctance of Igbo youths to enlist stems from distrust of the military rather than a lack of courage. “The reluctance of Igbo youths to enlist in the Nigerian armed forces is not a deficit of valour, but a calculated refusal to serve an institution they deeply mistrust. Historically and presently, Ndigbo face systematic marginalisation within an ethnically unbalanced leadership structure in Nigeria’s security services.” Ejimakor pointed to the anti-Igbo killings by soldiers in Northern Nigeria in 1967 as an “unhealed wound” that has been “constantly reopened” by more recent incidents. He also noted that South-East youths are unsettled by the integration of “repentant” Boko Haram fighters into the military.

The Labour Party and the Obidient Movement have questioned the motive behind the salary increase, despite acknowledging its benefits. The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Ken Asogwa, described the decision as overdue but suggested it was politically motivated. “It looks like it’s a political move done to score some political points.” However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu praised the salary increase, describing it as a timely intervention that reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of military personnel. Defence Minister General Christopher Musa (rtd) also expressed gratitude to the President, describing the move as a major boost to troop morale.

Military Salary Hike Sparks Mixed Reactions as South-East Youths Weigh Enlistment

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