“It is always important to appreciate those who have made sacrifices — those who lost their lives, their family members, those who were injured, and those who are still serving.” With those words, the Minister of Defence Gen. Christopher Musa (retd) set the tone on Thursday as Nigeria marked the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Ceremony in Abuja.
The event, which occurs annually on January 15 is dedicated to recognising military personnel who paid the ultimate price as well as those still in service.
The ceremony unfolded at the National Cenotaph with a tightly choreographed military parade that visually reinforced the gravity of the occasion.
The parade commander formally submitted the parade state, after which Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, inspected the guard of honour alongside the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya.
A firing party then led dignitaries in a slow march toward the cenotaph, where wreath-laying formed the central ritual of remembrance.
As the Last Post echoed across the grounds, attendees stood in solemn attention to honour fallen service members.
Religious leaders (a clergy and an Imam) later offered prayers for deceased personnel and for the safety of those currently serving.
The moment culminated in a minute of silence, underscoring the collective national reflection on the cost of military service.
At about 10:35 a.m., wreath-laying commenced, beginning with the Vice President and followed by senior government officials, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Waheedi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal, Sunday Aneke, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibas Abbas and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and other officials. and representatives of the diplomatic community.
After the final wreath was placed, the firing party discharged three volleys in ceremonial salute.
President Tinubu subsequently signed the anniversary register and released pigeons, symbolising peace and national remembrance.
The event drew a broad cross-section of Nigeria’s leadership, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and members of the diplomatic corps led by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Cameroon’s High Commissioner, Salaheddine Ibrahima.
Addressing journalists after the ceremony, Musa stressed that the observance extends beyond symbolic gestures, describing it as a collective national responsibility toward military personnel and their families.
He said, “It is a comprehensive effort we undertake together to appreciate them and encourage them by reminding them that Nigerians face challenges, Nigerians love them, Nigerians are praying for them, and that we need to support them.
“If you recall, even the name has been changed. It is no longer only the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Now, we have a week-long programme of activities.
“It is now the Armed Forces Celebration, where we celebrate those who are alive and remember those who have passed on. I think that is very comprehensive.”
By expanding the observance into a week-long programme, Musa said the nation aims to deepen public awareness of military sacrifices while reaffirming support for serving personnel amid ongoing security challenges.
The ceremony honoured both fallen and living members of the Armed Forces, though officials did not disclose a specific number of personnel recognised during the event.
Recall that the Federal Government had recognised nine Nigerian Army personnel and veterans, living and deceased, with national honours for acts of gallantry, leadership, innovation and long-term service.
Among those honoured were five serving officers, a retired general, and three personnel who lost their lives during counter-insurgency operations.
According to details disclosed by the Army spokesperson, Colonel Appolonia Anele, one of the posthumous recipients was Brigadier General Musa Uba, who received the Gallantry Award for leading troops from the front during counter-insurgency operations in Borno State.
Uba was killed in November 2025 when terrorists ambushed military personnel along the Damboa Road axis near Wajiroko while they were transporting equipment.
“Brigadier General Musa Uba was honoured with the Gallantry Award for displaying exceptional courage and leading troops from the front during counter-insurgency operations in Borno State” Anele said
Two officers were honoured posthumously for their roles in intelligence and counter-terrorism.
She continued, “Late Colonel B. Umaru received the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Excellence Award for his contributions to Operation HADIN KAI, while late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ebisingha Alari was awarded the Fallen Heroes Award for his service in counter-terrorism operations in the North-East.”
Beyond frontline operations, the Nigerian military continues to battle long-running insurgencies—particularly Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East—as well as banditry, kidnapping and communal violence across multiple regions.
These threats remain adaptive and resilient, placing sustained pressure on military capacity and personnel.
Despite these challenges, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had disclosed that more than 13,500 terrorists and criminal elements have been killed nationwide since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, underscoring the intensity of ongoing security operations.
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