Nigeria’s Armed Forces have slipped three places in the latest Global Firepower (GFP) rankings, raising questions about the nation’s military capacity despite recent investments in defense and reported successes against terrorism.
The 2024 GFP report places Nigeria at 39th out of 145 countries reviewed, marking a steady decline from 36th in 2023 and 35th in 2022. Even more striking, Nigeria has dropped from third to fourth position among African countries, overtaken by South Africa, while Egypt and Algeria retain the top two spots on the continent.
This drop comes despite the Nigerian military’s acquisition of advanced fighter jets and other combat equipment over the past year, as well as its claimed victories in counterterrorism operations. For many Nigerians, the ranking serves as a stark reminder of the growing gap between defense spending and tangible military effectiveness.
