The uncertainty of your loved ones as you leave for war.
The pain your family felt when they got to know you’ll never make it back.
The future of your unborn who will never know their father.
The extent of the sacrifices you’ve made,
We may never understand.
Today and always we’ll never forget our fallen and living Heroes.
Quote by Tamara
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday performed the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the end of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the National Arcade, Eagle Square in Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday led other top government officials and service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers who died in service in Nigeria and at international assignments.
The ceremony was to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
January 15th every year is also dedicated to remembering and appreciating surviving Nigerian military men who have retired from active service.
It was the third time President Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was laying the wreath in a democratic setting.
Buhari was clad in white ‘Babanriga’, just like Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara,
The brief ceremony started at about 10:00 a.m. when President Buhari arrived the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.
Christian and Muslim prayers were offered for the departed souls and the nation.
One minute silence was observed in honour of the departed souls and there was gun salute during the wreath-laying ceremony.
Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen and Minister of Defence, Dan Ali Mansur, were among top government officials who also laid wreaths.
Others included the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and other service chiefs and Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
President Buhari also signed the register and led the dignitaries to release white pigeons at the no speech making ceremony.
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday said the cohesion of Nigeria was paramount, urging Nigerians to embrace peace.
He stated this at this Year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the National Arcade, Lagos.
Aside remembering all fallen heroes, the Governor said it was important for Nigerians to dedicate their lives in project Nigeria because the country’s unity was more important than anything and anyone.
“Without them (fallen heroes), there will be no Nigeria. So, it is also important that we all should dedicate our lives and also remember that the position of Nigeria is significant and important for all of us to be together.
“The unity of Nigeria is more important than anything you can think of, it is only when we are united that we can make progress.
“That is why we are so particular about the development of this country. The country is bigger than any individual and we advice all Nigerians that the cohesion and unity of Nigeria is paramount at this moment,” said Ambode.
Similarly, Lagos Monarch, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, urged Nigerians to pray for members of the Armed Forces and see the celebration as a period to redouble efforts to keep Nigeria together.
In his remark, Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, noted remembering of fallen heroes was a must do task, urging Nigerians to unite to ensure peace and progress.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday led other top government officials and service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers who died in service in Nigeria and during international assignments.
Every January 15th is dedicated for remembrance of military men and women who died in active service.
The occasion is also use to appreciate surviving military personnel who had retired from active service.
Friday’s event was Buhari’s first since his election as President in March last year.
At the event, the President wore white Babanriga, white cap and black shoes to match.
The wreaths-laying ceremony at the National Arcade in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja took place few weeks that the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and Appeal Fund was launched by the President.
The brief ceremony started at 10.00am when President Buhari arrived the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.
Muslim and Christian officers prayed for the departed souls and the nation.
Vice President Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed and Minister of Defence, Dan Ali Mansur, were among top government officials who also laid wreaths.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday promised that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes, heroines, and veterans who rose up to the security challenges facing the nation won’t go unnoticed.
He gave the assurance while launching the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration is observed on every January 15 to commemorate the selfless service Nigerian troops in military campaigns and wars.
The theme of next year’s celebration is: “Motivating the Nigerian Armed Forces for Effective Service Delivery.”
Buhari at the event announced a donation of N10 million for the emblem.
He said: “We are gathered here today to observe a worthy tradition of acknowledging and appreciating the gallantry and accomplishments of our veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Peace Support Operations around the world, and internal security operations particularly the ongoing campaign against terrorism in our country.
“I am therefore proud to address this solemn gathering in honour of our distinguished veterans who devoted their lives to the service of our country and the world at large.
“Today’s occasion reminds us of the need to appreciate the noble contributions of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice to maintain national and international peace and security.
“The sacrifices of our fallen heroes, heroines, and veterans who rose up to the security challenges cannot go unnoticed.”
Stressing that Nigeria has remained one united country despite several challenges since independence, the President said the feat was achieved due to the determination of Nigerians to remain one people.
He also saluted the courage and sacrifices of men and women of Nigeria Armed Forces in grappling with the wave of terrorism, oil theft and piracy in some parts of the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo on Thursday led other top government officials and service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers who died during service in Nigeria and in international assignments.
January 15th every year is dedicated to remembrance of Nigerian military men who died in service to the nation and their surviving colleagues who have retired from active service.
The leaders laid wreaths at the National Arcade in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja, one month after the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and Appeal Fund was launched by the President.
The brief ceremony started at 10.00am after President Jonathan arrived the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.
Muslim and Christian officers prayed for the departed souls and the nation.
The President laid the wreath after a-minute silence in honour of the dead.
Vice President Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed and Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau were among top government officials who also laid wreaths.
Others were – the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed; Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh,and the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
A 21-gun salute preceded the wreath-laying ceremony.
President Jonathan led the dignitaries to release white pigeons at the arcade.
Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday derided some politicians over their predictions that Nigeria would be a history in 2015.
Dickson advised “the prophets of doom,” to desist from fanning the ambers of discord and acrimony through their unpatriotic utterances.
The governor spoke through his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) at the grand finale of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration which was held in Yenagoa.
Describing the position of such politicians as satanic, Dickson called on Nigerians to disregard the utterances of the agents of division.
He said despite the current challenges confronting the country, the people would continue to remain resilient and united.
The governor inspected a guard of honour mounted by men and officers of the Nigerian Airforce, army, navy and the legionnaires and laid wreathes in honour of fallen soldiers.
He insisted that the nation would continue to remain indivisible.
He said: “It is imperative for me to use this unique opportunity to remind the retired officers and men of the armed forces, that in spite of the fact that you have been retired from active service, some of you are still active enough to render useful services particularly in the area of maintaining peace and security in our various communities.”
He said there would be no meaningful development in the country in an atmosphere devoid of peace, security and stability.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Lt.Col. Effiom Igirigi (rtd) appealed to the federal government to fully pay the 53 per cent military pensions owned legionnaires in the state to alleviate their plights.
President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Wednesday led leaders of the legislature and judiciary as well as military and para-military organisations to honour Nigeria’s fallen heroes.
The President and the others performed the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony at the National Arcade in Abuja
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the annual ceremony started at 10am with the arrival at the arcade by the President, who is also the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion,
Upon the arrival of the President, there was a general salute, rendition of the National Anthem and inspection of parade in four colours.
The four colours on parade were the national colour and the three regimental colours of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force.
Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of departed heroes and for peace, security and unity of the nation by Christians and Muslims.
Shortly after the prayers, the President laid a wreath, followed by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Others who also laid wreaths were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, the Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr. Labaran Maku, and the FCT Minister, Malam Bala Mohammed.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Adm. Dele Ezeoba, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh also laid wreaths.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and the High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Mr. Abbas Saludeen, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, retired Col. Micah Gayya, also laid wreaths.
After the wreath laying, military and para-military men on parade, commanded by Maj. David Erasmus, fired guns and saluted.
The President thereafter released white pigeons, which signifies freedom, unity, peace and harmony for the country.
The annual ceremony is in honour and remembrance of fallen heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and unity of the country.