Nigeria’s Armed Forces slipped to 39th in the 2024 Global Firepower rankings, dropping from 36th in 2023. Despite recent military acquisitions, the country fell to fourth in Africa. Experts urge strategic reforms to address security challenges and regain Nigeria’s regional and global military stature.
Nigeria’s military has experienced another setback, dropping to 39th globally in the 2024 Global Firepower (GFP) rankings, a decline from its 36th position in 2023 and 35th in 2022. This highlights persistent challenges despite recent investments in fighter jets and military equipment.
On the African continent, Nigeria now ranks fourth, overtaken by South Africa. Egypt remains Africa’s strongest military, followed by Algeria. Analysts cite resource allocation, military innovation, and strategic execution as key factors behind these shifts.
The GFP index evaluates over 60 factors, including manpower, equipment, financial stability, and logistical capacity. Nigeria’s Power Index score for 2024 is 0.5619, indicating areas for improvement in defense readiness and efficiency.
Globally, the United States retains its position as the strongest military for the 18th consecutive year, followed by Russia, China, India, and South Korea. While Nigeria faces challenges, other African nations like Ethiopia and Morocco are advancing in military capacity.
Experts urge Nigeria to reassess its strategies and optimize resources to address security challenges and regain its standing.
