The Nigerian Army has dismissed allegations by a former soldier, Rotimi Olamilekan, that personnel purchase their uniforms and protective equipment with personal funds.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Appolonia Anele, the Army described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that troops are adequately equipped and catered for.

The statement was in response to a viral interview in which Olamilekan, popularly known as Soja Boi, alleged that soldiers buy items such as uniforms, boots and bulletproof vests despite earning modest salaries.

On remuneration, the Army maintained that it operates a structured and transparent salary system, with additional benefits for personnel.

“In addition to consolidated monthly salaries, personnel are entitled to uniform allowances and other allowances, which are periodically paid directly into their accounts,” it said.

The Army also noted that troops deployed for operations receive extra support.

“Personnel serving in operational theatres… are also paid operational allowances and other mission-specific entitlements designed to support their welfare and enhance operational effectiveness,” the statement added.

Addressing the core allegation, the Army rejected claims that soldiers procure their own kits and protective gear.

“The claim that soldiers are required to purchase uniforms and protective equipment, including bulletproof vests and helmets, is entirely false. The provision of uniforms, kits, arms, ammunition, and operational gear is an institutional responsibility executed through established logistics systems,” it stated.

It acknowledged that some personnel may choose to supplement issued kits for personal comfort but stressed that such decisions are voluntary.

“While some personnel may choose to supplement issued kits based on personal preference and comfort, such actions are voluntary and do not indicate any systemic failure,” the Army said.

The statement further emphasised that no soldier is deployed without adequate protection.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no soldier is deployed to an operational theatre without the necessary protective equipment,” it added.

The Army urged the public to disregard the allegations, warning that such claims could undermine morale and national security.

“The public is requested to disregard these baseless allegations… Citizens are urged to refrain from amplifying unverified claims that may undermine these institutions,” the statement said.

Reacting, the Army said the former lance corporal was dismissed over disciplinary breaches and not for expressing his views.

“The Nigerian Army categorically states that Mr Olamilekan was not dismissed for ‘speaking the truth’ or expressing opinions on political leadership. He was dismissed following persistent and grave acts of indiscipline, including violations of the Armed Forces Social Media Policy,” the statement read.

It added that his actions, including unauthorised media appearances and misuse of military identity, contravened established regulations.

Olamilekan had earlier claimed in an interview that soldiers earned between N51,000 and N111,000 and were responsible for purchasing essential gear, sparking widespread reactions online.

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Several African and Caribbean countries, including Nigeria and Jamaica, could face visa restrictions to the UK if Reform UK wins the next general election.

The proposed policy targets nations that formally demand reparations for slavery.

As reported by the Daily Mail on Monday, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, defended the plan, saying: “A growing number of countries are demanding reparations from Britain. They ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition.

“Astonishingly, these countries have received 3.8 million visas and £6.6 billion in foreign aid over the past 20 years. Enough is enough.”

Several African and Caribbean countries, such as Nigeria and Jamaica, have made requests, raising the prospect that their nationals could be barred from entering the UK.

Other nations mentioned by Reform UK include Kenya, Haiti, Guyana, Barbados, and The Bahamas.

The announcement comes weeks after a United Nations vote calling on former colonial powers to pay reparations for slavery.

The resolution described the forced displacement of Africans as one of the “gravest crimes against humanity.” Britain abstained from the vote.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the UN, saying: “It is now the UN telling us we should go bankrupt, to apologise for what people did in 1775 or whatever it might have been. Forget it. The UN has no legitimacy over this country whatsoever.”

The party also vowed to cap foreign aid spending at £1 billion annually, a 90% reduction from current levels.

A Foreign Office spokesman said the UK acknowledges the horrors of the slave trade but reiterated that its position on reparations remains unchanged. Opposition leader Keir Starmer has similarly ruled out an apology or payments, saying: “I want to look at the future rather than spend a lot of time on the past.”

Reparations: History and Modern Politics

Centuries ago, millions of Africans were torn from their homes, forced onto ships, and sold into slavery across the Americas and Europe.

Families were destroyed, communities uprooted, and entire cultures disrupted. The scars of these atrocities have endured across generations, shaping nations and peoples long after slavery ended.

In modern times, countries directly affected by this history have begun formally asking for reparations. Ghana has taken a leading role, advocating at the United Nations for recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as one of the “gravest crimes against humanity.” The African nation calls for formal apologies, restitution of stolen cultural items, and reparatory justice to address the lasting impact of slavery.

According to the United Nations, it has been increasingly involved in discussions and declarations regarding reparations, especially for slavery and its consequences.

In March and April 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity.”

This resolution, pushed by Ghana and supported by many African and Caribbean states, called for reparations to remedy historical wrongs, including apologies, restitution of cultural items, and dialogue on justice.

The vote was 123 in favour, with 3 (the United States, Israel, and Argentina) against and 52 abstentions.

The UN added that the following countries and groups asking for reparations are Ghana, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Nations, African Union, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and Haiti

Passengers onboard a Royal Air Maroc flight (AT 554) from Lagos to Casablanca, Morocco, endured a panic-filled ordeal on Easter Monday after the aircraft attempted an unscheduled diversion to Marrakech, another major city in the country.

The flight departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 7:05 a.m., with a scheduled arrival in Casablanca at 11:30 a.m. The journey proceeded normally until the cabin crew announced that the aircraft would make an unscheduled stop in Marrakech to pick up additional passengers, a development that surprised travellers who had expected a direct flight.

Shortly after the announcement, the aircraft began to shake violently as it attempted to adjust course to Marrakech. Passengers were gripped by fear, clutching seats, praying, and screaming the name of Jesus.

The aircraft appeared nearly half empty, which made passengers perceive that it was all about profit for the airline.

Cabin crew later apologised for the huge inconvenience but offered no detailed explanation for the development.

“They want to make more money at the expense of our lives,” one passenger, who requested not to be named in print, due to the nature of the incident, told our correspondent. “My only prayer was for us to land safely. I was watching everything from the window; it was beyond chaotic.”

The Nigerian traveller, who flies nine times a year between Africa’s most populous nation and the United States, said he had never experienced anything like it. The man added that the turbulence felt as though the plane could barely handle the air pressure en route to Marrakech, but the crew eventually managed to revert to the original route to Casablanca.

After landing safely in Casablanca, attempts by our correspondent to speak with the pilot were unsuccessful. A crew member said he would check with his supervisor and returned shortly, explaining that the pilot was attending to operational duties and would join shortly. The pilot, however, did not come forward, and no further clarification was provided.

Aviation regulations from major authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration, UK Civil Aviation Authority, and International Civil Aviation Organisation allow aircraft to divert, meaning to land at an airport other than the planned destination, but only for certain reasons related to safety, weather, technical problems, onboard emergencies, or airport or airspace issues. These are not random business decisions like picking up passengers to fill the aircraft.

According to experts, flight plans are filed in advance and must specify destinations and alternates. Deviating to load extra passengers at a place not in the flight plan would require clearance from every country involved and must still meet operational safety requirements.

A Senior Reporter at TechCabal, Temitayo Jayeola, who was also on the flight, described the experience as life-threatening. “I said my last prayer,” he recounted, recalling the tense moments when the plane jolted and dipped mid-air.

Another passenger shared a harrowing account of the turbulence. “The plane was trying to force itself into the weather,” he said. “Instead of going this direction, it veered another way. I was observing it, and it was dropping; if you force it, it could have ended in a crash. When you are flying, try to watch the map to know exactly where the pilot is going. If the wind had broken the plane, there was no way we would have survived.”

There are currently no direct flights from Lagos to Marrakech. Most flights from Lagos to Marrakech require at least one stop.

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