By Sumaila Ogbaje
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday led the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, members of the Federal Government Council, Nationwide Meeting, service chiefs and diplomatic corps to honour the nation’s fallen and residing heroes.
The occasion, which concerned the laying of wreaths on the Nationwide Arcade in Abuja, was the climax of actions for the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD).
First to put the wreath was the Vice President, adopted by the Senate President, Speaker Home of Representatives, represented by the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kerere-Ekun.
The wreath was additionally laid by the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, and the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, who’s the Excessive Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Salaheddine Ibrahima.
They have been adopted by the Chief of Defence Workers (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Military Workers, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Workers, Vice Adm. Idi Abbaa; Chief of the Air Workers, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke; and Inspector-Basic of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Different dignitaries who additionally carried out the wreath-laying have been the Nationwide Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Ms Grace Henry and consultant of navy widows, Mrs Cynthia Dusu.
There was additionally the firing of three volleys in honour of the fallen heroes which has its origin within the previous customized of halting preventing within the warfront to take away the useless from the battlefield.
The Vice President, thereafter, signed the anniversary register and launched the ceremonial pigeons as a logo of nationwide peace and freedom.
The celebration began with a sequence of actions together with the Jumma’at prayer on Jan. 9 on the Nationwide Mosque and the Interdenominational Christian service on Jan. 11.
This 12 months’s celebration additionally featured different actions, equivalent to social and award night for troopers, rankings and airmen and Regimental Dinner and Award Night time for officers organised by the Defence Headquarters, amongst different actions.
The Ministry of Defence Headquarters additionally held a symposium and lecture sequence on Monday, Gala and Award Night time on Tuesday in addition to medical outreach to navy veterans and their households on Wednesday in Abuja.
The occasion, previously often called the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, however now modified to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, is to create an avenue to rejoice and honour the serving personnel of the armed forces.
It’s celebrated globally to recognise and respect the sacrifices made by residents for the reason for peace.
In Nigeria, Jan. 15 is put aside yearly to honour the fallen heroes, who laid down their lives in service to humanity in the course of the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil Battle, peace missions and varied inside safety operations.
The occasion can also be used to honour veterans nonetheless alive and as a medium for soliciting monetary, ethical and materials assist for the households of the fallen heroes. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
