The Nigerian Army, which makes up the majority of the Nigerian Armed Forces, is in charge of all land operations.
Global Fire Power has Nigeria’s military ranked as the fourth-strongest in Africa and the 43rd-strongest in the world as of 2020, outperforming nations like Libya, Tunisia, and many others, particularly in terms of finances, logistics, and defense spending.
The Nigerian Army’s history.
The Nigerian Army has a long history, beginning in 1863 with Lt. 18 natives from the Northern region of what is now Nigeria were chosen by Glover of the Royal Navy, who then organized them into a local force known as the “Glover Hausas.”.
Glover used the small army of locals while he was the governor of Lagos to conduct punitive expeditions in the hinterland and to defend British trade routes through Lagos.
The “Glover Hausas” changed their name to “Hausa Constabulary” in 1865 when they were incorporated into the military. For the colonial government, they carried out both police and military functions. They later evolved into the “Lagos Constabulary.”. “.
Pertaining to joining the West African Frontier Force (WAFF). They took on the name “Lagos Battalion” in 1901. The Royal Niger Company (RNC), the Northern Nigerian Constabulary Force in 1886, and the oil rivers irregular in 1891 were all included by the British government in addition to the force.
In Jebba, Northern Nigeria, Lord Fredrick Lugard established the embryonic West Africa Frontier Force (WAFF), which became known as such in 1890.
The Royal Niger Company (RNC) Constabulary’s Northern Nigeria-based components were added to the newly formed unit. By the end of 1901, it had fully earned the title “WAFF” by integrating all paramilitary units from the other British dependencies under its command. “.
All units in each of the dependencies were combined into a regiment as a result of the creation of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF). The Northern and Southern Nigerian Regiments were created in Nigeria as a result of the merger.
Lt. CHP Carter (1899–1901) and Col. J. Wilcox (1900–1909), respectively, served as the first commanders of the Southern Regiments of the WAFF. The two regiments were later employed for expeditions when Lord Lugard annexed Nigeria between 1901 and 1903.
The Nigerian Regiments were established with the union of Nigeria in 1914, which saw the unification of the northern and southern Regiments.
The Northern and Southern Nigerian Regiments were reorganized into the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Nigerian Regiment (NR), while the Northern and Southern Nigerian Regiments were reorganized into the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Nigerian Regiment (NR).
During her visit to Nigeria, Queen Elizabeth II examined the Queen’s Own Nigerian Regiments.
Following World War II, the Northern Regiments’ mounted infantry became the standard Infantry Battalion. The Northern Regiment also included a field artillery.
The Nigerian regiment was renamed the Queens Own Nigerian Regiments (QONR) during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the country between 28 January and 15 February 1956.
The WAFF was regionalized that year as well, and each armed force was made independent of the others. The QONR changed its name to the Nigerian Military Force (NMF) as a result.
The Nigerian Government took over management of the NMF on June 1st, 1958, from the British Army Council in London.
When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the NMF adopted the name Royal Nigerian Army (RNA). The RNA was renamed the Nigerian Army after Nigeria gained its independence.
The Army transitioned to a new green khaki uniform that year, as well as a new rank structure and instrumentation.