Today marks the end of the seven-day deadline set by ECOWAS for the military juntas in Niger to restore democratic government and reinstate President Bazoum as the country’s democratic leader.

However, as the deadline approaches, there has been little or no change in the military juntas’ willingness to hand over power to civilian authority in Niger.

Despite a series of sanctions put on Niger, as well as calls from numerous African/European countries and world superpowers, the juntas in Niger have flatly refused to return to democratic leadership.

Tensions have risen as a result of this, particularly because ECOWAS boasted that it will employ military intervention and force if military juntas in Nigeria are not removed.

Now, the deadline has elapsed, what if ECOWAS result in wagging a war with Niger?

And we, of course, know that Nigeria’s military might will mainly be the backbone of ECOWAS to wage the war against Niger.

In light of this, let’s quickly take five comparison facts to note between the military might of Nigerian and that of Niger:

1. Defence Budget

Niger cannot compete financially with Nigeria since Nigeria has a larger defence budget than its neighbours in West Africa.

Nigeria has a defence expenditure of nearly $3 billion compared to Niger’s $287 million.

While Niger’s purchasing power parity is under $28 billion, Nigeria’s is over $1 trillion.

While it is true that Nigeria’s military budgetary allocation is low compared to that of African countries like Egypt, it remains a fact that Niger’s military budget doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to comparing it with that of Nigeria.

2. Air Might of Both Countries

Nigeria possesses 144 combat aircraft, including 52 helicopters, six special-purpose jets, 14 fighter jets, 28 training jets, and others.

When we compare the air power of that of Nigeria, it will only be a sort of bully to that Niger.

There are just 16 military aircraft in the Republic of Niger.

It is also noteworthy to add that the Nigerian military air power is one of the largest in Africa, consisting of about 18,000 personnel as of 2022.

Aircraft including 9 Chengdu F-7s, 12 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, three JF-17 Thunder Block II and 12 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano aircraft, 24 M-346 FAs on order, Helicopter gunships, armed attack drones, and military transport aircraft.

 

3. Military Personnel Comparison

There are 215,000 military troops in Nigeria, of which 135,000 are active.

Nigeria has 80,000 paramilitaries and more than 85,000 active duty personnel.

Only 13,000 military personnel—less than 15% of the size of the Nigerian army—can be claimed by the Niger Republic.

Niger has no reserves and just 10,000 active personnel.

Even when we take into consideration that Niger might want to include its civilian population in the military personnel of the country.

Niger still won’t stand a chance against the military personnel or ground troops of the Nigerian military.

 

4. Military Ranking

The Nigerian military is number 36 internationally, while the Nigerien army is placed 119, according to the 2023 Global Firepower rankings.

On the African Scene, Nigeria is placed fourth, and Niger is ranked twenty-fifth.

Even though the Nigerian military dropped one place in the latest global military ranking, the Niger military ranking in the world and Africa doesn’t stand a chance with the military rankings of Nigeria.

Let me also add that Nigeria dropped from third to fourth place in the African military ranking.

5. The Armed Artillery of Both Countries

Nigeria has 177 tanks as of 2023, whereas Niger has none. Niger possesses 728 armoured vehicles against Nigeria’s 15,748.

Nigeria presently has 30 self-propelled artillery, whereas Niger has none.

Similarly, Nigeria possesses 338 towed artillery, but Niger has none. Nigeria has 37 rocket projectors, whereas Niger has none.

However, based on rumours that have been going around on the Internet, if Russia’s Wagner, Mali’s military, Burkina Faso’s military and Guinea’s military decides to join forces with Niger’s military, we will be having another perspective on the war in military might.