Nigerian Army Recruitment Portal 2026/2027 (recruit.army.mil.ng): Requirements and How to Apply

Last updated: 9 October 2026

The Nigerian Army recruits soldiers and officers through two official portals: recruit.army.mil.ng for Regular Recruits Intake (RRI) and nashortservice.army.mil.ng for short service commissions. This guide covers every intake, what each one requires, how to apply step by step, the salary you can expect, and how to avoid recruitment scams.

Is the Nigerian Army Form Out? (October 2026)

State screening for 92RRI holds from 17 November to 1 December 2026 in each applicant’s state of origin, according to the general instructions on the recruitment portal.

Types of Nigerian Army Recruitment

The Army has several entry routes. Which one fits you depends on your age and qualification.

• Regular Recruits Intake (RRI): the main route for SSCE holders who want to join as soldiers. It has two streams: non-tradesmen/women (general duty) and tradesmen/women (drivers, mechanics, electricians, tailors and other trades). After screening, check the Nigerian Army RRI shortlisted candidates list.
• RRI special skilled applicants: new in 92RRI, for experienced boat operators, marine mechanics, and electrical and mechanical engineers.
• Short Service Combatant Commission (SSCC): for graduates who want to become combatant officers. The commission lasts 15 years (10 years active, renewable for up to 5 more).
• Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC): for graduates with professional skills, such as engineers, doctors, nurses, lawyers and teachers, who join specialist corps. Read more in our Nigerian Army DSS recruitment guide and the DSSC shortlist page.
• Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA): a five-year degree programme for young SSCE holders who want a regular commission. Applications usually open in late November.

92RRI Requirements

Trades and non-trades

• Nigerian by birth and single
• Age: non-tradesmen/women 18 to 22 years; tradesmen/women not older than 26 years, both as at 21 October 2026
• At least 4 passes including English Language in WASSCE, GCE, NECO, NABTEB or NBAIS, in not more than two sittings
• Tradesmen/women: a Trade Test or City and Guilds certificate as well
• Height: at least 1.68 m for men and 1.65 m for women
• NIN and BVN slips. Your name and date of birth must match on your NIN, BVN and every certificate
• Birth certificate from the National Population Commission, a hospital or your LGA, or a court age declaration
• Certificate of state of origin. You must apply under your state of origin, not where you live
• Medically, physically and psychologically fit, with no criminal record and no cult membership
• No tattoos, body piercings or inscriptions (tribal marks are allowed). Women must not have multiple ear piercings

Special skilled applicants

Applicants in this stream must be 18 to 35 years old as at 21 October 2026, hold a Trade Test or proficiency certificate, and have 2 to 5 years of proven work experience, including the ability to train others. The same height, NIN, BVN and state-of-origin rules apply, and the BVN slip must be signed and stamped by your bank.

SSCC 50/2027 (graduates)

SSCC applicants must be 23 to 27 years old as at 10 January 2027, with a first degree of at least Second Class Lower or an HND of at least Lower Credit, obtained from 2018 to date. You also need your NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, an attestation letter from your institution, and two referees from your state of origin (an LGA Chairman or Secretary, or an officer of Lieutenant Colonel/ACP rank or above). The height rule is the same as for recruits.

How to Apply on recruit.army.mil.ng (Step by Step)

1. Visit recruit.army.mil.ng.
2. Create an account, or log in with the username and password you created earlier.
3. Verify your NIN. You can enter it directly, use a NINAuth share code, or scan the QR code.
4. Fill in the form carefully. Use your state of origin and make sure your details match your documents.
5. Print your photo card, then click Submit. The portal disqualifies applicants who print the photo card but do not submit.
6. Print the guarantor’s form, declaration form and parent/guardian forms. Get them signed by your LGA Chairman or Secretary and certified by the Divisional Police Officer.
7. Check the portal and the Army’s official pages for the shortlist, then attend screening in your state of origin with all your original documents.

For SSCC, apply at nashortservice.army.mil.ng: choose SSCC, sign up with your email, verify it, upload your passport photo and documents, then print the photo slip for signing and present it to the selection board.

What Happens After You Apply

There is no computer-based test before screening for RRI. Shortlisted applicants attend state screening, where officers check documents, height and fitness, and conduct a medical test. The Army verifies certificates with the bodies that issued them, and anyone caught with fake documents is prosecuted. Phones and recording devices are not allowed at the screening venue.

Successful candidates then go for six months of basic training at a Nigerian Army depot. Depot NA Zaria is the main one, and recent intakes have also trained in Osogbo and Jaji. For 90RRI, recruits travelled to the depots in January 2026, about a month after state screening.

Nigerian Army Recruit Salary Per Month

The Army does not publish its salary table (CONAFSS). In August 2026, Leadership newspaper reported that President Bola Tinubu approved a pay rise from 1 September 2026: 80% for ranks from private to staff sergeant, 50% from warrant officer to colonel, and 30% above colonel. The figures below are estimates based on that report and may change once the new pay is fully implemented.

Recruits in depot training receive a training allowance, which is lower than a private’s salary. Full pay starts after passing out.

When Does the Nigerian Army Form Come Out?

The RRI form opens twice a year. The first window runs from late March to mid-May (91RRI ran 30 March to 17 May 2026). The second runs from September to October or early November (92RRI runs 9 September to 21 October 2026). Screening follows about four weeks after the portal closes. If you miss 92RRI, expect 93RRI around late March 2027.

Beware of Recruitment Scams

Nigerian Army recruitment is free. In July 2026, the Army warned that no form is sold, no agent can collect money for recruitment, and official adverts appear only in national newspapers and the Army’s verified channels. Do not pay anyone who promises a slot, and ignore Facebook pages or WhatsApp groups selling “army forms”. If you notice suspicious activity, report it to the nearest Army formation.

Official Contacts

• Recruitment portal: recruit.army.mil.ng
• Email: recruitment@army.mil.ng
• Short code: 193. Support lines: 07036499094, 09041116433 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• SSCC enquiries: 07016874003, 07047340295 (8am to 6pm daily)
• Official social media: Facebook (NigerianArmy), X (@HQNigerianArmy), Instagram (@hqnigerianarmy)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official Nigerian Army recruitment portal?

recruit.army.mil.ng for Regular Recruits Intake and nashortservice.army.mil.ng for short service commissions. Any other site asking for money is fake.

Is the Nigerian Army form out now?

Yes. The 92RRI form is open until 21 October 2026, and SSCC 50/2027 is open until 17 October 2026.

What is the age limit for the Nigerian Army?

For 92RRI, 18 to 22 for non-tradesmen/women and up to 26 for tradesmen/women. Special skilled applicants can be up to 35. SSCC applicants must be 23 to 27.

Can a married person join the Nigerian Army as a recruit?

No. Regular recruits (trades and non-trades) must be single.

Can I apply from a state that is not my state of origin?

No. You must apply and attend screening under your state of origin, with a valid certificate of state of origin.

How much is the Nigerian Army form?

It is free. The Army does not sell recruitment forms.

Disclaimer: tpi.com.ng is an independent information website and is not affiliated with the Nigerian Army. Always apply only on the official Army portals.