By Azeez Ope Quadri 
The Nigerian Armed Forces comprise the Nigerian Army (NA), the Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). Each of them has its military roles strategically specified in special areas of duties; however, they have corresponding ranks.
Note: Commissioned Officer starts from Second Lieutenant (NA), Acting Sub-Lieutenant (NN) and Pilot Officer (NAF)
For instance, a General in the Nigerian Army, an Admiral in the Nigerian Navy and an Air Chief Marshal are of the same rank with four stars (one eagle, crossed sword and a baton, and two stars above them).
Similarly, a Commodore in the Nigerian Navy, which is equivalent to the rank of Air Commodore (NAF) or Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, has one star.
Interestingly, even when a rank sounds similar across or between two Armed Forces, they do not connote the same rank. For instance, a Captain in both the Nigerian Army and the Navy is not the same rank. An NA Captain is equivalent to an NN Lieutenant. Conversely, an NN Captain is equivalent to an NA Colonel.
Corresponding ranks in the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force
| NIGERIAN ARMY | NIGERIAN NAVY | NIGERIAN AIR FORCE |
| Private | Ordinary Rating | Aircraftman |
| Lance Corporal | Able Rating | Lance Corporal |
| Corporal | No equivalent specified | Corporal |
| Sergeant | Leading Rating* | Sergeant |
| Staff Sergeant | Leading Rating | Flight Sergeant |
| Warrant Officer | Petty Officer | Warrant Officer |
| Master Warrant Officer | Chief Petty Officer | Master Warrant Officer |
| Army Warrant Officer | Warrant Chief Petty Officer | Air Warrant Officer |
| Second Lieutenant | Acting Sub-Lieutenant | Pilot Officer |
| Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant | Flying Officer |
| Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant |
| Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader |
| Lt Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander |
| Colonel | Captain | Group Captain |
| Brigadier-General | Commodore | Air Commodore |
| Major-General | Rear Admiral | Air Vice-Marshal |
| Lt General | Vice-Admiral | Air Marshal |
| General | Admiral | Air Chief Marshal |
Note from the Armed Forces Act
These are corresponding service ranks, not necessarily identical duties or appointments. The Armed Forces Act’s schedule lists the Navy equivalent for Sergeant as “as above” after Staff Sergeant, so the table follows that schedule by showing Leading Rating with an asterisk. Rank names in the supplied salary graphic do not map perfectly onto every rank label in the Act, according to PlacNG
Tosin Opeyemi