Nigerian Soldiers on ECOWAS Mission in Gambia have cried out over 6-month unpaid allowances and food shortages.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Nigerian soldiers deployed under the ECOWAS peacekeeping mission in The Gambia, known as ECOMIG (Economic Community of West African States Mission in The Gambia), have raised alarm over months of unpaid allowances, deepening hardship, and a deteriorating welfare situation that now threatens their morale and dignity.
According to credible accounts from a soldier currently serving under “Nigerian Company 9” – one of the units deployed since June 26, 2024, personnel have not received any of their basic entitlements for six months. These include traveling allowances, feeding stipends, operational bonuses, and a $177 monthly habit allowance, all of which remain unpaid since January 2025.
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“Our commanding officer, Lt. Col. F.O. Manga, has made several efforts to get these allowances released, but all efforts have proved futile,” the source said in a WhatsApp conversation, pleading anonymity for fear of reprisal.
He further revealed that local vendors who previously supplied food and basic provisions have refused further cooperation, citing unpaid debts by the Nigerian contingent. “Even the local vendors where our foodstuff is bought have refused to supply, demanding that we make payments from previous debts.”
A Compounding Crisis
The plight of the troops appears to be part of a larger issue affecting Nigerian military missions abroad. The source mentioned that even troops who were withdrawn from United Nations operations in South Sudan two months ago are still owed their last quarter allowances, amounting to three months’ unpaid dues.
He lamented that if action is not urgently taken, soldiers might never see their entitlements, with each soldier potentially losing over $4,800 in arrears, not counting the $5,700 ECOWAS operation allowance they are supposed to receive.
“We are victims here. I am crying out that me and my colleagues are being owed our feeding, habit, and operational allowances since January,” the soldier said in a voice note shared with our correspondent. “Even the Chief of Defence Staff is aware of this.”
Calls for Accountability
Despite pressure from within the ranks, there appears to be no movement at the top. The troops maintain that their commanders have not withheld the funds but are equally frustrated by the lack of disbursement from defense authorities back in Nigeria.
The soldiers say they are scheduled to wrap up operations in June 2025, but without urgent intervention, they fear they might return home penniless.
A Brewing Scandal
This revelation comes at a time when Nigeria’s military spending and transparency are under scrutiny. Analysts argue that the continued neglect of peacekeeping troops could severely undermine Nigeria’s commitment to regional security and tarnish the integrity of ECOWAS-led missions.
As of press time, the Nigerian Ministry of Defence and ECOMIG command have not issued an official statement regarding the situation.
