For decades, the Nigeria military has depended on foreign nations for weapons and for driving a virile defence industry. In recent time, Nigeria has gone into the business of home-made warships.
Specifically, the Nigeria Navy has designed and built some ‘Seaward Defense Boat’ (SUB). The ‘Seaward Defense Boat’ (SUB) is a mid-shore patrol boat something short of a deep ocean-going ship but more capable than a coastal patrol boat.
This warship-building capacity of the Nigerian Navy is a demonstration of how far we can go as a nation if we believe in our potentials. Nigeria’s navy is the largest in West Africa, with some 25,000 personnel and roughly 200 platforms.
Perhaps in recognition of its limitations, the Nigerian navy has sensibly concentrated its efforts on procuring a fleet of offshore and inshore patrol vessels, augmented by local construction to ensure an adequate patrol presence in the country’s EEZ and to protect its offshore oil installations. Smaller combatants and patrol craft have also been extensively deployed against Boko Haram.
However, before you think of joining the Nigerian Navy, it is important you know about the Nigerian Navy ranks and the salary structure.
The ranks of the Nigerian Navy composed of two division: Commissioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers.
Commissioned Officers
The commissioned offers in the Nigeria Army Include:
- Admiral of the Fleet
- Admiral
- Vice-Admiral
- Rear Admiral
- Commodore
- Captain
- Commander
- Lieutenant Commander
- Lieutenant
- Sub-Lieutenant
- Acting Sub-Lieutenant
- Mid-Shipman
Non-Commissioned Officers
The non-commissioned offers in the Nigeria Army Include:
- Warrant Chief Petty Officer
- Chief Petty Officer
- Petty Officer
- Leading Rating
- Able Rating
- Ordinary Rating
- Trainee
Nigerian Navy Symbols/Insignia/Logo
The image below describe how the difference Nigerian Navy Symbols, Insignia and Logo looks like;
With the above insignias, you can tell the rank of a Nigerian Navy officer by simply taking a quick glance at their shoulder, that’s where the insignia is usually attached on their uniforms.
The Nigerian Navy Ranks, Salaries From Lowest to Highest and Symbols
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) is the sole head of the activities of the Nigerian Navy and also heads the Naval Command Centres in Nigeria alongside other top military staff in that order. This rank is the most senior of all the highest ranking officer in the Nigerian Navy.
The Nigerian Navy is the military branch that protects the territorial waters of the country, it is the duty of the Chief of Naval Staff, who is the highest ranking commissioned Naval Officer to report to the Chief of Defence Staff, who then reports to the Minister of Defence and then to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Forces, who is also known the President.
Here’s the Nigerian Navy Ranks, Salaries and Symbols for both commissioned and non-commissioned officers:
1. Mid-Shipman
This is the junior most rank for commissioned officers in the Nigerian Navy. It corresponds with the rank of Pilot Officer in the Nigerian Air Force and the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
2. Sub-Lieutenant
This rank is above Sub-Lieutenant and below Lieutenant Commander. Its equivalent ranks in the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force are Lieutenant and Flying Officer, respectively.
3. Lieutenant
This corresponds with the rank of Captain in the Nigerian Army and the rank of Flight Lieutenant in the Nigerian Air Force.
4. Lieutenant Commander
This corresponds with the rank of Major in the Nigerian Army and the rank of Squadron Leader in the Nigerian Air Force. It is the rank above Lieutenant and below Commander. Note: The word “lieutenant” means “assistant or deputy.
5. Commander
This is the rank above that of Lieutenant-Commander and below that of Captain. It corresponds to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army and the rank of Wing Commander in the Nigerian Air Force.
6. Captain
Corresponding to the Colonel rank in the Nigerian Army, the Captain rank is above that of Commander and below that of the Commodore. Officers in the rank of Captain are usually in charge of largest ships at sea.
7. Commodore (Cdre)
This is the rank above Captain and below Rear-admiral. It is equivalent to Brigadier in the Nigerian Army and Air Commodore in the Nigerian Air Force.
8. Rear-admiral
This is the rank below that of a Vice admiral and above that of a commodore. They are otherwise referred to as 2-star officers. Rear admirals are the most junior officers among the “Admiralty ranks” and are sometimes referred to as flag officers.
9. Vice-admiral
This rank is equivalent to Lieutenant General in the Nigerian Army and Air Vice Marshal in the Nigerian Air Force. It is above the rank of rear admiral and below the rank of Admiral. Officers at this rank are also called 3-star officers.
10. Admiral (Adm)
This is technically the highest rank in the Nigerian Navy, as the only rank superior to it is more of a honorary type. The rank is above that of vice admiral and below Admiral of the fleet.
It is equivalent to the rank of General in the Nigerian Army and that of Air Chief Marshal in the Nigeria Air Force.
11. Admiral of the fleet
This is the highest rank of the Nigerian Navy. It is rarely conferred, as it is more of a honorary position. It is equivalent to the rank of Marshal of the Nigerian Air Force and to the rank of Field Marshal in the Nigerian Army.
Nigerian Navy Salary Structure
The Nigerian Navy salaries varied from lowest to highest. The Naval officers average salary structure for Marine Engineer is ₦ 95,000 per month, Naval Engineer is ₦ 229,000 per month, ICT Security Expert is ₦ 109,000 per month, communicator is ₦ 51,000 per month and Navy Recruit is ₦ 76,000 per month. Here is the amount Nigerian Naval officer collect as salary in a year currently.
- Admiral in the Nigerian Navy earns ₦16,303,140 per year.
- Vice Admiral earns ₦13,363,229 yearly.
- Real-Admiral earns ₦12,038,945 yearly.
- Commodore earns ₦7,385,856 yearly.
- Captain earns ₦3,715,859 yearly.
- Commander earns ₦3,380,086 yearly.
- Lieutenant Commander earns from ₦2,558,956 – ₦2,976,052 per year.
- Lieutenant earns from ₦2,404,037 – 2,789,818 per year.
- Sub-Lieutenant earns from ₦2,255,911 – ₦2,630,801 per year.
- Mid-Shipman earns from ₦2,077,875 – ₦2,245,909 yearly.
- Navy Warrant Officer earns from ₦1,908,718 – ₦2,061,520 yearly.
- Master Warrant Officer earns from ₦1,783,029 – ₦1,962,697 yearly.
- Warrant Officer earns from ₦1,022,320 – ₦1,192,499 yearly.
- Cadet (Training) earns ₦471,038 – ₦534,773 per year.
Nigerian Navy Commissioned Officers Salary
Nigerian Navy Commissioned Officers Salary include:
Admiral
- Salary (per year)= ₦16,303,140
- Salary (per month)= ₦1,358,595
Vice-Admiral
- Salary (per year)= ₦13,363,229
- Salary (per month)= ₦1,113,602
Rear Admiral
- Salary (per year)= ₦12,038,945
- Salary (per month)= ₦1,003,245
Commodore
- Salary (per year)= ₦7,385,856
- Salary (per month)= ₦615,488
Captain
- Salary (per year)= ₦3,715,859
- Salary (per month)= ₦309,655
Commander
- Salary (per year)= ₦3,380,086
- Salary (per month)= ₦281,674
Just like other armed forces, there are other benefits aside from the monthly salaries paid to naval officers, and these benefits are; travel, stable employment, career growth, improved physique, free healthcare, and unique experience benefits.
