The Nigerian Armed Forces have introduced a new rule banning military personnel from marrying foreigners or naturalised Nigerians.
The regulation is contained in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024, which also prohibits commissioned officers from marrying non-commissioned personnel such as soldiers, ratings, or airwomen.
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Service chiefs have been instructed to strictly enforce the rule.
According to Chapter 25, Subsection 5 of the new law, “No officer is allowed to marry a foreigner or a naturalised Nigerian.” Officers must also seek approval from higher authorities before getting married, and their intended spouses must go through a security vetting process.
A retired Major General explained that the rule aims to protect national security and prevent sensitive information from leaking through foreign spouses. He said, “Imagine a Nigerian soldier married to a Cameroonian or Liberian, and Nigeria goes to war with that country — loyalty could be divided.”
However, some experts have called for a review of the rule. Retired Group Captain Shehu Sadeeq said many countries vet spouses instead of enforcing a total ban. “This law should be reviewed to introduce background checks instead of outright prohibition. Young officers may see it as an infringement on their rights,” he said.
Civil society leaders expressed mixed reactions. Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim said the law should apply only to top-ranking officers with access to sensitive information, while Auwal Rafsanjani of CISLAC supported the restriction, noting that military officers must always put national interest first.