Wounded Soldiers Deserve More: Aggrieved Citizen Laments Unequal Government Priorities
By Baba Dan’iya
An aggrieved Nigerian has decried the Federal Government’s perceived neglect of wounded and incapacitated soldiers, citing the recent national honours and financial rewards bestowed upon members of the Super Falcons football team.
The citizen, who preferred not to be named, made the remarks following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of generous rewards to the Nigerian women’s national team and their technical crew after their triumph in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
According to the official pronouncement, each Super Falcons player received $100,000, a three-bedroom apartment under the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, while coaches and support staff were awarded $50,000 each.
In contrast, the concerned citizen questioned why Nigerian soldiers who sustained life-altering injuries in the line of duty have not received similar or even modest compensation, expressing grave disappointment over the government’s apparent misplacement of priorities.
“If the Super Falcons can be awarded $100,000 each and a house, yet a soldier who lost his limbs defending the nation receives not even $1,000, then what does that say about the value we place on sacrifice?” he queried.
He further lamented the lack of consistent support, comprehensive medical care, and long-term welfare for injured personnel, describing the government’s approach as “nonchalant and unserious.”
“The treatment of these brave men and women shows a lack of national gratitude. It is no surprise that some security personnel may become disillusioned, lose morale, or even deny their responsibilities,” he said.
The speaker also raised sociological concerns, pointing to what he called “ritualism”—a term he used to describe individuals who abandon societal goals due to lack of access to legitimate means, yet continue to conform outwardly to institutional rules.
“If the society promotes success but limits the legitimate path to achieving it, people will find other ways—even illegal ones—to reach the same goals. This is how corruption, crime, and disloyalty find fertile ground,” he warned.
He urged the Federal Government to rethink its reward system and national priorities, especially regarding those who risk their lives for the country’s security and sovereignty.
“The military deserves not just recognition, but structured and sustainable care. Patriotism must not be a path to abandonment,” he concluded.
