A Soldier Spending Part Of His Money To Kit Himself Is Not Supposed To Be A Big Deal – Gen Ayoola

Retired military officer, General Henry Ayoola, has pushed back against growing concerns that Nigerian soldiers are being forced to spend their personal funds on military gear due to systemic shortcomings, insisting that such practices are neither new nor indicative of institutional failure.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, the retired general addressed recent public discourse suggesting that troops purchasing their own equipment reflects poor welfare and inadequate provisioning within the armed forces.

He firmly rejected this interpretation, describing the situation as a matter of individual preference rather than necessity.

“I started my military career from the military school in Zaria. I’ve seen this for over 52 years now. The idea of a soldier or an officer, out of his own volition, spending part of his own money to kit himself beyond the standard issue because there is a standard kitting that the armed forces give the army, navy, and air force and that is still there. But it’s not supposed to be a big deal,” Ayoola said.

Drawing from his decades of experience, he explained that the military has always maintained a structured system for issuing essential kits to personnel across its various branches.

According to him, the standard provisions remain intact and continue to meet basic operational requirements.

Ayoola further illustrated his point by reflecting on his early years in service, noting that he personally chose to acquire additional uniforms beyond what was officially provided.

He emphasized that such decisions were driven by personal preference rather than any deficiency in the system.

He argued that soldiers, like professionals in other fields, may opt to enhance their appearance or comfort by purchasing extra items, and that this should not be misconstrued as evidence of neglect by military authorities.

In his view, there are no regulations preventing personnel from supplementing their issued kits if they so desire.

The retired general maintained that interpreting such actions as a sign of systemic failure risks misrepresenting the realities within the armed forces. Instead, he suggested that the focus should remain on understanding the distinction between optional personal choices and official provisions…See More