Soldier questions the rationale behind rewarding players while troops are left uncatered for

ONE soldier serving with the Nigerian armed forces has questioned the rationale behind the federal government rewarding members of the Super Eagles with national honours and material gifts while members of the military are being neglected.

Earlier this week, President Bola Tinubu conferred the national award the Member of the Order of the Niger on members of the Super Eagles squad that just finished second at the recent African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.  They were also offered them flats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and plots of land in Abuja in recognition of their feat.

However, one serving soldier with the Nigerian Army, identified as Adie Paul, has faulted the decision of the government at a time when soldiers in the battlefield are not receiving such recognition. Taking to his X handle to express his frustration, the soldier said he  sustained a bullet injury while serving in the northeast and has basically being ignored.

While sharing a picture, the soldier wrote: “Yet, as a soldier, I stayed in the northeast fighting Boko Haram for four years plus. I was shot and I am still carrying the bullet in me till date, not even a medal from the army/Nigeria government.”

Receiving the team at the presidential villa, President Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain positive, emphasising that the Super Eagles had shown through their performance that the country remains a force to reckon with.  Upon returning from the tournament in Abidjan, the team had earlier been hosted to a welcome breakfast at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.