President Bola Tinubu on Thursday led different high authorities officers to honour fallen and dwelling troopers on the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Ceremony in Abuja.
The occasion started with the submission of the parade state by the parade commander, after which the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who represented the President, inspected the guard of honour, accompanied by the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig. Gen. Adebisi Onasanya.
A firing get together then led dignitaries to the cenotaph for the laying of wreaths. The Final Publish was sounded in honour of fallen heroes as all current stood in respect.
Particular prayers had been later supplied by an imam and a chaplain for the repose of the souls of the departed and the safety of serving personnel. This was adopted by a minute of silence in honour of the fallen troopers.
At about 10:35 a.m., wreaths had been laid on the cenotaph, starting with the Vice President, adopted by the Senate President, the Deputy Speaker of the Home of Representatives, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Excessive Commissioner of Cameroon, Salaheddine Ibrahima, Chief of Defence Employees, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Military Employees, Lt. Gen Waheedi Shaibu, Chief of Air Employees, Air Marshal, Sunday Aneke, the Chief of Naval Employees, Vice Admiral Ibas Abbas and the Inspector Normal of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and different officers.
Three volleys had been fired by the firing get together after the wreath-laying.
The President thereafter signed the anniversary register and launched pigeons to mark the event.
Dignitaries on the occasion included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, George Akume; the Minister of Defence; the Chief of Defence Employees, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd); the Nationwide Safety Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-Normal of Police; Kayode Egbetokun, the Senate President; Godswill Akapbio; the Deputy Speaker of the Home of Representatives; and members of the diplomatic corps, led by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Excessive Commissioner of Cameroon, Salaheddine Ibrahima.
President Tinubu urged Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of fallen navy heroes, warning {that a} nation that forgets them “loses its route”.
In an Armed Forces Remembrance Day assertion he personally signed, Tinubu mirrored on the bravery of Nigeria’s Armed Forces. “On this Armed Forces Remembrance and Celebration Day, Nigeria pauses to honour its heroes,” he mentioned. “We bear in mind the courageous women and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces who sacrificed every thing for our nation. Their names won’t at all times be remembered, however their braveness sustains our freedom and peace.”
The President prolonged heartfelt solidarity to households of the fallen, acknowledging their profound grief. “I additionally converse in the present day to the households of our fallen heroes—widows, kids and family members. Your loss is profound, and no phrases can change the sacrifices of your family members. They served Nigeria with honour, and our individuals will always remember their sacrifices,” Tinubu acknowledged.
He praised active-duty personnel for his or her unwavering service throughout land, sea and air. “At the moment, we have a good time our serving personnel. From the frontlines to assist positions… you carry the heavy accountability of defending our individuals and sovereignty with self-discipline, braveness and professionalism, usually removed from dwelling.”
As Commander-in-Chief, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s assist. “A safe Nigeria stands behind those that defend it. We’ll proceed to assist them in motion,” he pledged, concluding with prayers: “Could our fallen heroes relaxation in peace. Could God strengthen our Armed Forces. Could God bless Nigeria.”
Talking to journalists after the occasion, the Minister of Defence reaffirmed the significance of honouring Nigeria’s fallen troopers, wounded personnel, serving officers and their households, noting that the nation owes them continued appreciation and assist.
He mentioned, “It’s at all times vital to understand those that have made sacrifices — those that misplaced their lives, their members of the family, those that had been injured, and those that are nonetheless serving. It’s a complete effort we undertake collectively to understand them and encourage them by reminding them that Nigerians face challenges, Nigerians love them, Nigerians are praying for them, and that we have to assist them.
“For those who recall, even the title has been modified. It’s now not solely the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Now, we’ve a week-long programme of actions.
“It’s now the Armed Forces Celebration, the place we have a good time those that are alive and bear in mind those that have handed on. I feel that could be very complete.”
Remembering Nigeria’s previous heroes, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Celebration, mentioned the occasion reminds the nation to a rustic worthy of their sacrifice.
He mentioned in a submit on his social media handles, “On this solemn day of Armed Forces Remembrance, we honour those that have laid down their lives in service to our nation. This particular annual occasion serves as a reminder for us to recommit ourselves to being a nation worthy of their sacrifice.
We’re instructed {that a} soldier’s true grave isn’t within the earth, however within the hearts and minds of these they protected—those that slept peacefully whereas their heroes stood guard. Within the warmth of the solar and the coolness of the evening, they stood on the frontlines for us.
Maybe essentially the most becoming honour we are able to bestow upon these heroes is to dwell lives that promote peace and progress. We should present management that offers hope to the hopeless. For the households of those fallen heroes, in the present day isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s a reminder of an empty chair and a voice that’s now not heard. Whereas we can’t fill that void, we need to guarantee you that their immense sacrifice was by no means in useless.
God bless our fallen heroes, and should their souls proceed to relaxation in everlasting honour.”
The Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day is well known each January 15 to have a good time the sacrifices of each dwelling and deceased troopers.
THE POINT reviews that the remembrance celebration happened in nearly all of the States of the Federation concurrently with governors recommitting themselves to the welfare of members of the family of fallen troopers.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, ordered the quick employment of kids of fallen servicemen within the state.
The directive was given on Thursday throughout the Armed Forces Remembrance ceremony held at Authorities Home, Port Harcourt, as a part of actions marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Fubara mentioned the choice underscored the state authorities’s dedication to supporting the Armed Forces, different safety businesses and the households of personnel who misplaced their lives within the line of responsibility.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assured members of the Nigerian Armed Forces of his administration’s unwavering assist of their quest and efforts to safeguard and defend the sovereignty of the nation.
The Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Kadri Hamzat, gave the reassurance on Thursday throughout the Parade and Laying of Wreaths Ceremony in commemoration of the Y2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, held on the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Sq., Lagos Island.
In response to Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State authorities’s dedication to supporting the households of fallen heroes is rarely unsure, including that Nigerian governments and the individuals will at all times bear in mind their sacrifices.
Governor Fortunate Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has reiterated that the safety of lives and property stays a high precedence of his administration, stressing that peace and security are the muse upon which {economic} development, social stability and growth thrive.
Aiyedatiwa additional disclosed that particular person mortgage assist has been scaled up from N200,000 to between N450,000 and N500,000 per beneficiary, enabling widows to increase their small companies and maintain their households.
Whereas Abia State Governor, Alex Otti urged residents of the state, specifically, and Nigeria basically, to be taught classes from historical past, significantly the 1966 coup and the civil battle, his Anambra State counterpart, Chukwuma Soludo marked Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day by addressing the Nigerian Civil Battle that formally ended 56 years in the past.
“We can’t proceed to struggle a civil battle that ended 56 years in the past by hiding within the bushes and killing ourselves,” Soludo mentioned, calling on armed {groups} to desert violence and take part in nation-building.
He additionally inspired younger individuals within the South-East to hitch the navy and police forces, warning that with out illustration in safety businesses, the area will lack senior officers sooner or later.
Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, implored company organisations and personal people to lend assist to the nation’s armed forces by means of contributions and partnerships that will enhance their circumstances of service.