News
Nigeria’s military ranking drops for second consecutive year: What it means?

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.
On the global stage, the United States remains the world’s most formidable military power for the 18th consecutive year, followed by Russia, China, and India. The top five is rounded out by South Korea, with the United Kingdom, Japan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Italy completing the top ten.
Meanwhile, in Africa, Egypt maintains its dominance at 15th globally, showcasing its robust military capabilities. Algeria, ranked 26th, and South Africa, at 33rd, outpace Nigeria, which now stands precariously at fourth in the African rankings.
Read Also: Tinubu, Obasanjo meet at Mahama’s inauguration, exchange pleasantries
Global Firepower evaluates military strength using over 60 factors, including the size of a nation’s armed forces, defense budgets, equipment inventory, logistical capabilities, and geographic advantages.
Nigeria’s drop in the rankings suggests shortcomings in areas such as modernization, resource allocation, or operational efficiency. While significant strides have been made in acquiring advanced combat enablers like the A-29 Super Tucano jets and Bayraktar drones, experts argue that a lack of cohesive strategy and infrastructural weaknesses may be hampering the military’s overall effectiveness.
For a country grappling with terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges, the military’s global standing holds symbolic weight. The decline in ranking contrasts sharply with the government’s narrative of progress in security, prompting skepticism about the true state of Nigeria’s defense system.
The GFP report highlights the complexity of measuring military power, noting that smaller, technologically advanced nations can outperform larger, resource-rich ones due to strategic efficiencies. Nigeria’s challenge lies in addressing systemic issues—corruption, inadequate training, and outdated infrastructure—that undermine its considerable potential.
With a PwrIndx score of 0.5619 (where a lower score indicates higher power), Nigeria’s Armed Forces remain a significant player in Africa. However, turning the tide will require more than equipment acquisitions—it will demand reforms in leadership, strategy, and resource management.
Join the conversation
Opinions
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.