06/17/2026
Glover another Founding father of Nigeria.
Brief History of the Nigerian Army which dates back to 1863 when Lt. Glover of the British armed forces selected 18 indigenes from the Northern part of what is now Nigeria and organised them into a local force, called the “Glover Hausas”.
This local force was used by Glover during his rule as the governor of Lagos to carry out punishment, intimidatiom and savage expeditions on the Yoruba people of the Lagos hinterland. Glover Hausas were also used to protect British trade routes around Lagos.
In 1865, the “Glover Hausas” became a regular force and were renamed the “Hausa Constabulary”. They performed both police and military duties for the colonial government They were later again renamed the ‘Lagos Constabulary.”
At the same time there was a Northern force that became known as the West African Frontier Force, its history is as part as a slave raiding army. This force in the 1890s came under the control of Frederick Lugard.
The Glover Hausas whose name was changed to the Hausa Constabulary then the Lagos Constabulary were then incorporated into the West Africa Frontier Force (WAFF).
In 1901, the Colonials changed the name again and the Glover Hausas having merged with the West African Frontier Force became known as “Lagos Battalion.”
In addition the Royal Niger Company had its own force known as the Royal Niger Constabulary Force. As the owner of the Royal Niger Company having bought it from Goldie the British government had the Royal Niger Company (RNC), Constabulary Force in Northern Nigeria in 1886.
The new unit expanded by absorbing the Northern Nigeria-based elements of the Royal Niger Company (RNC) Constabulary. By the end of 1901, it had incorporated all paramilitary units in the other British dependencies in West Africa into its command, thus earning the name “WAFF.”
The establishment of West African Frontier Force (WAFF) led to the merger of all units into a regiment in each of the dependencies. The merger in Nigeria produced the northern Nigerian Regiment and Southern Nigerian Regiment.
The First commanders of the Southern Regiments of WAFF were Lt CHP Carter (1899-1901) and Col J Wilcox (1900-1909) respectively. The two regiments were later used for expeditions during the annexation of Nigeria by Lugard between 1901 and 1903.
With the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the unification of the northern and Southern Regiments came into being and this witnessed the birth of the Nigerian Regiments. The Northern Nigerian Regiments became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Nigerian Regiment, while the Southern Nigerian Regiment became the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Nigerian Regiments (NR).
The mounted infantry of the Northern Regiments became the ordinary Infantry Battalion after the Second World War. A field artillery also existed in the Northern Regiment.
With the visit of Queen Elizabeth of Britain between 28 January and 15 February, 1956, the Nigerian regiment was renamed the Queens Own Nigerian Regiments (QONR).
Also in the same year, the regionalisation of the WAFF came into existence and each military force became independent of the other. As a result, the QONR became the Nigerian Military Force (NMF). By 1st June, 1958, the British Army Council in London relinquished control of NMF to the Nigerian Government.
In 1960, when Nigeria became independent, the NMF became known as Royal Nigerian Army (RNA). When Nigeria became a republic, the RNA changed to the Nigerian Army. In the same year, the Army changed its uniform, rank structure and instruments from those of RWAFF to new ones including green khaki uniform.
If you read back to the start, you will see that what you call a Nigerian Army is made up of 3 parts, Glover Hausas, Royal Niger Company Constabulary Force and the West Africa Frontier Force. All have their roots in Arewaland, Northern Nigeria, all set up to protect the interests of colonial bandits with punishment, savagery and death as deemed necessary.
Congratulations to those happy Nigerians, nothing has changed, even your army is not yours. Glover, Goldie and Lugard must be smiling in their grave.
. Arabirin Sola
