The Nigerian Armed Forces are the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria. The military has active
duty personnel in three armed services, totaling approximately 200,000
troops and 300,000 paramilitary personnel. Its origins lie in the
elements of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) that became
Nigerian when independence was granted in 1960. In 1956 the Nigeria
Regiment of the (RWAFF) was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces, RWAFF,
and in April 1958 the colonial government of Nigeria took over from the
British War office control of the Nigerian Military Forces. They consist
from Nigerian Army (the largest component), Nigerian Navy and Nigerian
Air Force. In late 2013 the strength of the standing Nigerian Army
totaled nearly 100,000 men. An additional 82,000 trained members of
paramilitary forces were available to augment regular units as
necessary. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air arm of the Nigerian
Armd Forces. It is one of the largest in Africa, consisting of about
10,000 personnel armed with aircrafts, armed helicopters, and
military transport aircraft.
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