EYE REPORTERS EDITORIAL, AUGUST 6, 2025
At Eye Reporters, we have always celebrated Nigeria’s sporting triumphs. Every goal, slam dunk, and trophy that lifts the green-white-green on the global stage deserves the resounding applause of a proud nation. The recent lavish rewards bestowed upon the Super Falcons and D’Tigress, luxury apartments, national honours, and hefty cash gifts, are well-earned tributes to our gallant sports ambassadors.
Yet, as the victory songs fade, a troubling silence lingers far from the spotlight, in the military hospitals where Nigeria’s wounded soldiers lie forgotten. These are men and women who bore arms so the rest of us could know peace; so that stadiums could brim with cheering fans; so that Nigeria’s anthem could echo in courts and fields across continents.
A recent photo making the rounds on social media shows a poignant moment between a Nigerian soldier who lost both hands in battle and a senior military officer, a former Chief of Air Staff. The soldier, a victim of the brutal Boko Haram insurgency, embodies the unspoken sacrifices of countless frontline heroes who have given their bodies for Nigeria’s safety. Yet, despite his visible scars and unquestionable bravery, he has received no national honour, reward, or structured support from the government, unlike the grand receptions and cash splashes showered on sports champions.
This image has reignited public outrage over Nigeria’s skewed reward system, where battlefield sacrifices are often met with silence, while athletic victories are celebrated with millions and state ceremonies. It is a powerful reminder that patriotism must be measured not by media visibility but by the depth of one’s sacrifice. Nigeria’s recognition of her heroes must reflect this truth.
This editorial is not an indictment of rewarding excellence in sports. On the contrary, it is a clarion call for balance. A nation that rewards “goals” but ignores its warriors courts a dangerous moral contradiction. The applause for athletes must never drown out the cries of those who sacrificed their limbs, and lives, for the same national pride.
Every day, Nigeria’s soldiers face the brutal realities of insurgency, terrorism, and violent extremism. Some come home wrapped in the national flag, lifeless. Others return with shattered bodies and unseen emotional wounds. Yet, many of these heroes receive neither national honours nor tokens of gratitude that match the scale of their sacrifice.
It is a disservice to frame this as an “either-or” debate. Nigeria is capable of celebrating both her sports icons and her military heroes. But when public policy visibly tilts towards those in the limelight, it sends a disheartening message, that sacrifice is valued only when it is televised.
Eye Reporters insists that national gratitude must be equitable. The institutional fanfare, rewards, and recognition showered on our athletes must be extended to our servicemen and women. This is not charity. It is a moral obligation and a national duty.
If Nigeria can gift $100,000 to a player for scoring goals, surely, the country can summon the courage to compensate its wounded soldiers with dignity, structured welfare, and sustained support. Anything less is a betrayal.
True patriotism is not merely in cheering a goal; it is in standing by those who bled to keep the stadiums safe.
