Nigeria Doesn’t Honour its Heroes – Skales Reacts to Calls for Youths to Join Military
Nigerian singer and songwriter Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, popularly known as Skales, has criticised recent calls by authorities urging young Nigerians to enlist in the military, questioning the country’s treatment of its servicemen and women.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Skales expressed scepticism about the appeals, arguing that Nigeria does not adequately honour its heroes and alleging that military personnel are poorly treated.
“Nigeria doesn’t honour its heroes, and yet they’re asking people to join the army. Meanwhile, soldiers are suffering. Lol,” he wrote.
His remarks came in response to ongoing appeals by government officials and civic groups encouraging youth participation in the Nigerian Armed Forces, amid reports of dwindling interest among young Nigerians.
Skales’ comments sparked mixed reactions online. Some users accused him of discouraging national service and painting a one-sided picture. One user, @kheeng_diamond, replied, “You don’t want to serve the country and you are also discouraging those that want to? Stop viewing reality from your own perspective alone.”
In a follow-up post, Skales defended his stance, saying he was already contributing to the country through music.
“I’m representing my country with music na. How much do they even pay soldiers who risk their lives for all of us? Go join na,” he responded.
His comments have ignited wider debate on social media about the role of youth in national service and the government’s responsibility in ensuring better conditions for military personnel.
