He joined the army and moved up steadily through the ranks, becoming deputy defense adviser at the Nigerian High Commission, India, director at the Staff College, Jaji, and Chief of Administration and Chief of Logistics Army Headquarters.

[3] Nigeria and Cameroon disputed ownership of the Bakassi Peninsula, thought to hold major oil reserves, with sporadic fighting starting in 1994.

As commander of Nigerian forces in the region (82 Mechanised Division, Enugu), General Oladayo Popoola said the exchange was made in the "spirit of reconciliation in our countries".

[4][5] While in the army, Popoola studied law at the University of Lagos as a part-time student, obtaining an LL.B.

In 2004, he was working as managing director of Daybis Printing Press, a company in Ibadan.