President Bola Tinubu lays a wreath at the wreath-laying ceremony in Abuja to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Credit: State House.
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, alongside Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, among others, laid wreaths at the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in honour of the Nigerian military personnel who died in the line of duty.
For the first time since assuming office, the President presided over the historic event at the National Arcade in Abuja, inspecting a Guard of Honour mounted by detachments of the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Nigerian Legion.
Afterward, Tinubu laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier as a mark of last respect to the fallen heroes who paid the supreme price to preserve the nation’s territorial integrity and peace globally.
Three volleys of 21-gun salute were fired at the event, followed by the signing of the Remembrance Day Anniversary register by the President, who released white pigeons to indicate the nation’s harmony.
Also laying wreaths were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, and the Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru, and his Minister of State, Bello Mattawale.
Others are the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, a member of the diplomatic corps, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion and a representative of the widows of the fallen heroes.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed annually on January 15 to honour the country’s military heroes, both living and deceased, who have served in World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, and various peacekeeping missions.
The day marks the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the armed forces to maintain the country’s territorial integrity and peace. The highlight of the ceremony is the laying of wreaths at the National Cenotaph in Abuja, a solemn ritual performed by the President, top government officials, and military chiefs.
Speaking afterward, Senate President Akpabio said Monday’s wreath-laying ceremony is the administration’s way of identifying with those left behind by the fallen heroes. He promised to “do everything possible” to ensure their welfare.
“Today’s ceremony is to signify to all of them that they are not alone, that we also mourn with them and we continue to pray for God Almighty to console them and provide for the children and their siblings that they have left behind.
“Again, the presence of all of us is also a major significance that, indeed, the government of the day would never let them mourn alone and I will do everything possible to ensure that their welfare is taken care of and that this event reduces the calamities that we’re seeing in our country,” said Akpabio.
Echoing Akpabios’s commitment was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who said the national assembly would ensure the welfare of the surviving family members of the fallen.
He remarked, “They should know that what they are doing is a noble cause and we will be with them all the way.
“We will support them all the way. I will ensure that their siblings are not left alone. That is a commitment from the National Assembly, as you have learned from our senate president.
“We will do everything humanly possible to improve the welfare of the families of the fallen heroes and the active men and women in the field.”
On his part, the Minister of Defense said his ministry has all the support it needs to cater to the needs of the surviving families and ease the operations of living service personnel.
Badaru said, “We will do our best and we have all the support from Mr. President to support the family of the fallen heroes in every way and manner possible.”
He urged those in active service to “keep working very hard and rid us from the menace of the security challenges in the country,” adding that “they are doing wonderfully well now.”
Meanwhile, widows of the fallen heroes lamented what they called a lack of progress in their welfare. They urged the present administration to prioritise their welfare by setting up structures supporting their businesses and finance access.
The National President, the Military Widows Association, Mrs Veronica Aluko, said although the wreath-laying ceremony shows that their husbands did not die in vain, the living are in dire need of adequate welfare.
She said, “We are remembering today that these people left us for real. And the significance of today is remembering their sacrifice, that it is not in vain. Some have died and are forgotten but remembering them…gives us more strength,
“But we don’t want to go cap-in-hand begging. Because if you beg today, people will close their doors tomorrow. So we wrote to the former President that we want to sell little things, to partner with some of these unions to generate revenue, like tickets. Some states have given us approval, like Osun state, where the governor gave us approval to sell in the State. And we say thank you to him.
“Delta State is coming on board. By the time we raise some money there, we can start giving these women a source of livelihood. So our children can have hope of going to school from these things we are selling. We collaborate with the police so that we can help even the widows outside to lessen this burden.”
National Secretary Military Widows’ Association, Mrs. Deborah Halima Abel, who recounted the association’s milestone in the past decade said “We’ve not achieved much in the past 10 years. So, we are hoping and we pray that this present government will be of assistance maybe from then we’ll start achieving. But for the past 10 years, military widows, just like the police widows have not achieved anything.”
On his part, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (retd.), called for a review of benefits due to military veterans as the current remunerations have been devalued by inflation.
Jibrin argued, “There should be a corresponding increase of the pensions of those who have served and left. The families of the fallen heroes, after giving them the entitlement of gratuity and death benefits, are left in the hands of the Nigerian Legion. But the Nigerian Legion is not well grounded in terms of finances to be able to shoulder the enormous responsibilities of looking after all the families of the fallen heroes.
“So we call upon the government to continuously look at our allowances and pensions in relation to the inflationary trend we’re all experiencing now.
“For example, if I’m taking N10,000, that cannot buy what N10,000 was buying a year ago or two. So, it means that my pension has been rendered more or less useless. So, how does government assist the retirees and the families of heroes? By looking at the ways to increase the pension and allowances that we are entitled to after service.”
Otti calls on corporate organisations, community Leaders , others to Initiate projects in support of Armed Forces
Steve Unegbu, Umuahia
Abia State Governor,Dr Alex Otti has called on well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations and community leaders to initiate projects and programmes in support of the Armed forces, in appreciation of the sacrifices they make to promote peace and restore order and stability within the country, and across international borders.
Governor Otti who made the call during the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph,Ogurube Layout Umuahia, stressed the need for improved welfare of the armed forces who paid the supreme sacrifice for the peace and unity of the country.
The Governor while emphasizing the integral role security plays in economic and social development, further called for a shift in focus towards supporting military personnel, both active and veterans.
While regretting that the welfare of the men and women of the Armed forces has not received the quality attention that it deserves, Governor Otti, noted that their welfare should be paramount and commensurate with the sacrifices they render in their service and post service years.
He said: “As a nation, we should be thankful that our servicemen and women, not minding the failures and wilful amnesia of the political elites, have continued to stand firmly by their lifelong commitment of dedication and loyalty to fatherland that nothing, not even poor welfare conditions and reported abandonment of families of deceased colleagues, can dampen their morale.
“Even then, it is indeed very regrettable that the welfare of our men and women in uniform, in their service and post-service years, has not received the quality attention that is commensurate with the sacrifices they make.
“The time to make a change in the way we treat our active military operatives and veterans has come. It is the least we can do for the brave individuals for whom the fear of death means nothing”.
Governor Otti, commended the contributions of the Armed Forces to the security of Abia State and pledged the continued support of his administration towards the security of the state.
He noted that their contributions to the state government has culminated to the resumption of economic and social activities in areas that had hitherto served as safe haven for men of the underworld.
“Until the end of my tenure, the security formations, especially those operating in the state, can count on my consistent support for their welfare because our economic and social programmes would be sabotaged or fatally impaired without adequate security in all parts of the state.
“Beyond just supporting our men and officers in active service, we shall also work closely with the Nigerian Legion, Abia State Chapter, to support the body of veterans in our state for the good of the men and women who once served this nation with strength and devotion.
“We shall also not forget the families left behind by those who paid the ultimate price in service of our fatherland, defending its territorial integrity or keeping criminal elements at bay”, Governor Otti pledged.
He called on citizens to uphold patriotism by prioritizing the nation in their daily actions and expressions in addition to contributing to the pursuit of a just and equitable society.
High points of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration include the inspection of a guard of honor by Governor Otti , Laying of wreaths at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Special prayers and a minute silence for the fallen heroes as well as the release of pigeons signifying peace.
