Assessing the Hausa Language Proficiency of Non-Native Hausa Speakers in the Nigerian Army

Hausa functions as an important operational communication language within the Nigerian Army, serving as a lingua franca among soldiers from diverse ethnic backgrounds who undergo training and serve together in predominantly northern operational environments. This study assesses the Hausa language proficiency of non-native Hausa-speaking Nigerian Army personnel stationed at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State. A descriptive assessment design was adopted, with proficiency tests administered to 150 non-native Hausa-speaking soldiers drawn from South West, South East, and South South geopolitical zones. The assessment instrument measured listening comprehension, oral production, vocabulary breadth, and reading comprehension in Hausa. Structured questionnaire data captured self-reported language acquisition pathways, duration of exposure to Hausa, and perceived professional importance of Hausa proficiency. Findings indicate that soldiers with longer service periods in northern postings demonstrate significantly higher Hausa proficiency scores, and that informal acquisition through peer interaction is the dominant language learning pathway, as no formal Hausa language instruction programme currently exists within the assessed unit. Functional communication proficiency for basic operational contexts is achieved by most respondents with over three years of northern posting experience, while advanced proficiency remains limited. The study recommends establishment of a structured Hausa language orientation programme for non-native speaking soldiers posted to northern Nigeria and development of a military Hausa language proficiency framework. Keywords: Hausa proficiency, Non-native speakers, Nigerian Army, Language learning, Military communication.