Four months after returning from foreign missions, soldiers reportedly remain unpaid for substantial portions of their allowances as concerned personnel urge the Federal Government and military authorities to investigate the alleged delays.
By A1NEWS International
ABUJA, September 18, 2026 — Nigerian soldiers who recently returned from international peacekeeping missions are reportedly facing prolonged delays in the payment of their outstanding mission allowances, with some personnel allegedly owed as much as seven months of entitlements.
The development has triggered an appeal to the Federal Government and relevant military authorities to urgently investigate the reported payment discrepancies and ensure that affected personnel receive all outstanding funds due to them.
A1NEWS International understands from accounts attributed to sources familiar with the matter that the affected soldiers returned to Nigeria approximately four months ago but have allegedly not received the full allowances associated with their respective foreign deployments.
The claims, first reported by SaharaReporters, indicate that the alleged arrears differ according to the countries or missions where the soldiers served.
Soldiers Reportedly Owed Between Six and Seven Months
According to the sources cited in the report, soldiers deployed to Sudan were reportedly paid for three months but remain owed seven months.
Personnel deployed to The Gambia were allegedly paid six months’ allowances and are said to be awaiting another six months.
Similarly, soldiers who served in Guinea-Bissau were reportedly paid three months and allegedly remain owed seven months.
The reported figures, if confirmed by the relevant authorities, would represent substantial outstanding entitlements for personnel who participated in overseas assignments on behalf of Nigeria.
However, A1NEWS International has not independently verified the individual payment records or established the precise amount allegedly outstanding to each affected soldier.
Claim of United Nations Payments Raises Questions
A central issue raised by the sources is an allegation that the United Nations has already released the funds required to cover the soldiers’ mission allowances.
One of the sources appealed directly to the Federal Government to resolve the matter.
“We are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently pay the outstanding entitlements owed to Nigerian soldiers who were deployed abroad and returned about four months ago, but have still yet received all the fund due to them.”
The source further claimed that the United Nations had made the necessary payments but that the affected personnel had yet to receive their complete entitlements.
“We understand that the United Nations has already made the necessary payments for these soldiers’ entitlements. However, despite this, the Nigerian Government has yet to ensure that the soldiers receive what they are rightfully owed.”
The allegation raises an important accountability question: if funds for the relevant peacekeeping allowances have been received, at what stage in the payment chain have the reported delays occurred?
That question could require clarification from the military authorities, relevant government agencies and, where appropriate, the United Nations.
Concern Over Prolonged Delay
The alleged delay has reportedly become a source of concern among affected personnel, particularly because the soldiers are said to have returned to Nigeria months ago.
A group describing themselves as concerned soldiers called on the Federal Government and military authorities to immediately examine the situation.
“We are therefore making a strong and respectful appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the relevant military authorities to immediately look into this matter and pay these soldiers their outstanding entitlements.”
The group also emphasised the risks associated with international deployments.
“These are men and women who were sent abroad to serve their country and who risked their lives in the line of duty. They deserve to receive their rightful payments without unnecessary delay.”
The appeal is centred not only on the reported financial arrears but also on the broader issue of administrative accountability in the management of allowances attached to Nigeria’s participation in international peacekeeping operations.
Threat to Take Dispute Public
The group further indicated that the matter could become a public issue if the reported arrears are not resolved.
“If this matter is not addressed, we will have no choice but to bring the situation to the attention of the public.”
The statement suggests growing frustration among the affected personnel, although A1NEWS International could not independently establish the size of the group involved or whether it formally represents all soldiers affected by the alleged payment discrepancies.
Defence Headquarters Asked To Clarify
Efforts were made to obtain an official response from the Defence Headquarters.
When contacted for clarification, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, indicated that he was driving and requested that questions be sent by text message.
“I am driving now, please, you can send a text message,” he said.
A text message was subsequently sent seeking clarification on the reported non-payment or delayed payment of allowances to Nigerian soldiers deployed on international missions.
However, no response had been received as of the time of filing this report.
Consequently, the claims concerning the alleged outstanding allowances, the reported payments by the United Nations and the reasons for any delay remain subject to official clarification.
The Accountability Question
Nigeria has a long-standing role in international peacekeeping and has deployed military personnel to various missions outside the country.
For soldiers returning from such assignments, timely payment of authorised allowances is an administrative and financial matter that requires clear documentation and accountability.
If the reported arrears are confirmed, the authorities would need to explain the cause of the delays, identify the agencies or processes responsible for disbursement and establish a clear timetable for settling the outstanding obligations.
Conversely, if the reported figures or claims concerning United Nations payments are inaccurate, the relevant authorities would need to provide the correct payment records and explain the actual status of the soldiers’ entitlements.
The reported dispute over unpaid allowances places renewed attention on the administration of Nigeria’s international military deployments.
The key questions remain unresolved: How much was allocated for the affected personnel? When were the funds received or authorised for disbursement? How much has actually been paid to each category of soldiers? And what accounts for the reported outstanding balances?
Until the Defence Headquarters, the Federal Government and other relevant authorities provide documentary clarification, the reported figures should be treated as allegations from sources familiar with the matter rather than independently verified payment records.
A1NEWS International will continue to monitor the matter and update this report if the Defence Headquarters or other relevant authorities provide a substantive response.
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