Army includes ability to speak Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa as part of criteria for recruitment

-Nigeria army mandates its personnel to attain basic level standard of the three major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

-They also disclosed that understanding of the three languages would henceforth, be a requirement for recruitment into the army. 

Army orders its personnel to learn Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba.

The Nigerian army has issued new guidelines mandating all its personnel to learn the three basic Nigerian languages of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba before the end of 2018.

In a statement released on Wednesday by army spokesman, Brigadier-General Sani Usman, the directive is part of the army’s new language policy aimed at fostering better communication and relationship with the civilian community.

He disclosed that all army personnel are expected to have attained a minimum of basic level standard of proficiency for the languages on or before December 2018, while those who attain the certificated proficiency level will benefit language allowance.

“The policy will foster espirit-de-corps and better communication with the populace to enhance information gathering, civil-military relations, increase understanding between militaries when operating abroad and assist officers and soldiers to perform their duties professionally,” the statement read.

“It is to be noted that English remains the official language in the Nigerian army. Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages could be used during civil military cooperation (CIMIC) activities or interrogation.

“Therefore all Nigerian Army personnel have been given one year to learn the three major Nigerian languages. Invariably, by December 2018, all Nigerian army personnel are expected to learn the three major Nigerian languages.”

Usman further disclosed that the ability to speak the three major Nigerian languages will be an added advantage to those applying for recruitment into the Nigerian army.

He added: “Therefore, prospective candidates are encouraged to learn Nigerian languages other than their mother tongues.

“Before now, the Nigerian army officially encouraged the learning of French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili. French language is an assessed subject in some career courses and examinations for Nigerian army personnel.”