The Nigerian Army ranks can be very confusing most especially for someone who is a civilian. The ranks are very important in identifying men and women of the Nigerian Army including the offices that they occupy and whether they are commissioned or not. It is important to note that the Nigerian Army ranks are different from the Nigerian Navy ranks as well as the Nigerian Airforce ranks since they are all designated with different responsibilities.
The different ranks in the Nigerian army are divided based on some symbols that are placed on the shoulders of officers. Whether you have the hope of joining the army or not, it is important to know all the ranks the 19 ranks that make up the Nigerian Army. Of these 19 ranks, there are 11 ranks for commissioned officers and 8 ranks for non-commissioned officers.
Here Are All The Nigerian Army Ranks
All Ranks Of Commissioned Officers And Symbols
1. Field marshal
In the Nigerian army as well as the military all over the world, the Field marshal is the highest-ranking officer. The Field marshal is the only one who is above the General. However, no one has ever attained this level in the Nigerian army. The symbol of the Field Marshall is an eagle and a crossed sword and baton surrounded by two branches.
2. General
The General is at the top of the Nigerian Army ranks only below the Field Marshal. The symbol of a General in the Nigerian Army is a golden eagle, 2 stars, and a cross of sword and baton.
3. Lieutenant General
The Lieutenant General in the Nigerian army is a rank above the Major General and a rank below the General. He is referred to as the three-star general. He is the third most senior person in the Nigerian Army. The symbol of the Lieutenant General in the Nigerian army is a golden eagle, a star, and a cross of sword and baton.
4. Major General
The Major general in the Nigerian army is a rank above the Brigadier General and a rank below the Lieutenant General. The symbol of the Major General is a golden eagle and a cross of sword and baton on both shoulders. He is also referred to as the 2-star general.
5. Brigadier General
At the top tier of the Nigerian Army Ranking is the General/flag officers ranking group. At the bottom of this group is the Brigadier general who above all the men in the Field/Senior officers and Junior officers cadre. The Brigadier General in the Nigerian army has an eagle and three stars on both of his shoulders.
The Brigadier General is also referred to as the one-star general.
6. Colonel
He is the most senior in the Field/Senior officers’ rank category. The Colonel has an eagle and two stars on each of his shoulders.
7. Lieutenant colonel
Directly above the Major in the Nigerian Army Ranks is the Lieutenant colonel who is also in the field/senior officer’s ranking group. The symbol of the Lieutenant colonel is an eagle and a star.
8. Major
While the Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Captain make up the Junior Officers in the Nigerian Army, The major, is the first person in the Field/Senior officers rank group. The Major’s symbol in Nigeria is a single eagle.
9. Captain
Together with the Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant, the Captain is also a junior officer in the Nigerian army. He has three vertical stars as his symbols.
10. Lieutenant
In the Nigerian Army, the Lieutenant is the officer that is directly above the second lieutenant and is often abbreviated as Lt or just Lieut. The symbol of this officer is two vertical stars.
11. Second lieutenant
The Second lieutenant is the lowest rank for a commissioned military officer in Nigeria. The symbol of the Second Lieutenant is a single star. Those in this rank have to pass through the NDA or short-service befroe they can be comoissioned.
Nigerian Army Ranks For Non-Commissioned Officers
12. Warrant Officer Class I
Before the retirement of elisted soldiers, this is considered to naturally be the topmost rank. His symbol is a golden eagle an surrounded by two branches.
13. Warrant Officer Class II
Also refrred to as the Master Sergeant Officers, this is the second topmost rank among the non-commssioned officers in the Nigerian army. The symbol of the Master Sergeant Officer is the Nigerian Coat of Arm with gilver horses while all others are golden.
14. Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant is considered to be a senior officer among the non-commissioned offivers in the Nigerian army. He is above the sergeant and below the Warrant Officer. The symbol of the Staff Sergeant is three shoulder marks and a golden eagle.
15. Sergeant
A rank above the corporal, the sergeant is impoirtant in overseeing the daily activities of the soldiers in Nigerian army. He has three V shaped ropes as his symbol.
16. Corporal
Above the Lance Corporal is the Corporal who is designed with two V marks on the shoulder. He ranks as the number 4 man in the level of the Nigerian army ranks.
17. Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal is mostly considered as the lowest ranking officer among the non-commssioned officers. He has a V shoulder mark as symbol.
18. Private
Above the trainee is the Private army. This rank is mostly assigned to a soldier after disciplinary action is taken on a soldier. He has no symbol.
19. Recruit
The recruit is the lowest rank in the entire Nigerian Army. Also known as the Trainee, they are newly recruited into the Nigerian army and they have one shoulder mark.
