Nigerian soldiers who recently returned from peacekeeping operations in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have renewed their appeal to the Federal Government over six to seven months of outstanding operational allowances.
The soldiers served under the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) and the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau before returning to Nigeria approximately four months ago.
According to military sources who spoke to SaharaReporters on Saturday, the troops are still waiting for substantial portions of their allowances despite claims that ECOWAS had released funds meant for the personnel.
Sources said soldiers deployed to The Gambia were paid for six months but remained owed another six months, while those deployed to Guinea-Bissau were paid for only three months and were still owed seven months.
The affected soldiers had previously appealed to the Federal Government and Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to intervene and ensure that their outstanding entitlements were paid.
Their concerns came shortly after the Defence Headquarters confirmed that Nigerian troops participating in a separate United Nations-led operation in Sudan had received their outstanding funds and were subsequently paid.
However, the soldiers who served in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau said their own allowances remained unpaid, despite their return to Nigeria months ago.
The troops also questioned why their colleagues from Ghana and Senegal who participated in the same ECOWAS missions were allegedly paid their allowances in full before leaving the mission areas, while Nigerian personnel continued to await their outstanding payments.
“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 to receive all the funds due to them,” one of the sources said.
“We understand that ECOWAS 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 soldiers’ complaints first came to public attention in September 2026, when SaharaReporters reported that more than 200 Nigerian soldiers deployed to The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau for ECOWAS missions were demanding unpaid operational bonuses reportedly totalling about N9.2 million, equivalent to approximately $5,700, per soldier.
Each soldier was reportedly entitled to a $950 monthly bonus from ECOWAS.
At the time, sources disclosed that payment discrepancies differed according to the mission. Troops deployed to The Gambia were reportedly paid six months and owed six months, while those deployed to Guinea-Bissau were paid three months and owed seven months.
The affected soldiers had warned that they would be forced to bring their grievances to public attention if the matter was not addressed.
When contacted for clarification, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, confirmed that Nigerian troops were participating in operations in Sudan, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
He clarified, however, that the three missions were being funded and administered under different international arrangements.
According to Uba, the Sudan operation is United Nations-led, while the missions in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau are ECOWAS-led.
“Funding for the payment of these allowances is the exclusive responsibility of the two international organisations and not Nigeria as a nation,” Uba said.
He explained that allowances due to personnel were paid upon receipt of funds from the relevant international organisation.
“Allowances due personnel are paid to them promptly on receipt from the UN and ECOWAS as applicable,” the Defence spokesman said.
Uba also confirmed that funds for the Sudan operation had been received and that the affected troops were paid the previous week.
“With regards to your inquiry, funds for Sudan have been received and troops paid last week. Those who came back from Gambia and Guinea Bissau will be paid on receipt of funds from ECOWAS. The DHQ is making efforts to ensure funds are released to us for immediate payment,” he said.
The Defence spokesman further maintained that the welfare of military personnel remained a priority for the Defence Headquarters, noting that allowances received from international organisations were separate from the salaries and other allowances ordinarily paid to members of the Armed Forces.
However, the latest complaints from the soldiers have again raised questions over the delay in settling the allowances of Nigerian personnel who served under the ECOWAS missions.
The soldiers said they had completed their assignments and returned to Nigeria about four months ago, yet remained owed between six and seven months of operational allowances.
They also disputed the explanation that payment was simply awaiting the release of funds from ECOWAS, insisting that they had information that the money had already been made available.
One of the soldiers alleged that the payment of the Sudan troops came only after renewed public attention was drawn to their unpaid allowances.
“Sir, they paid the money after SaharaReporters publication. I swear the money dey for hand,” the soldier said.
The soldier also questioned the disparity between the treatment of Nigerian troops and personnel from other West African countries who participated in the same ECOWAS operations.
“Because Ghana and Senegal soldiers that were in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, they paid all their allowance. So why is it only Nigeria that has not paid? Maybe they are just using the money — that is why as that news came out, they paid Sudan,” the soldier alleged.
The troops are now appealing to the Federal Government and Defence Headquarters to urgently resolve the matter and ensure that all outstanding allowances owed to them are paid.
“We are only asking for what we worked for and what is owed to us,” the soldiers said.