• ‘Ministry leading drive for local defence production’
• Buratai proposes special fund to accelerate defence technology development
• Sanwo-Olu seeks support for fallen heroes’ widows
• Alia to clear outstanding pension, gratuities
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all Nigerians of the Armed Forces’ commitment to defending the nation’s democratic values and ensuring peace and security.
He also assured that the military high command would continue to foster highly professional Armed Forces with a collective mindset geared towards meeting its constitutional responsibilities.
Oluyede said this yesterday in his goodwill message on the commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The CDS said the Armed Forces, in collaboration with other security institutions and civil authorities, and guided by the invaluable lessons of veterans, would navigate the various challenges to achieve lasting peace and security in the country.
Oluyede paid a tribute to the fallen heroes, whose sacrifices he said safeguarded the nation’s unity and sovereignty.
The CDS noted that Remembrance Day served as a “poignant reminder of the heavy price paid for the peace and liberty we enjoy today”.
He said: “Their ‘today’ was given for our ‘tomorrow’, and their legacy of courage remains etched in the annals of our nation’s history forever.
“Their devotion to duty was not a mishap but a calling to patriotism; hence, the weight of our gratitude remains unquantifiable.”
Oluyede also acknowledged the sacrifices of the families of fallen heroes, whose strength and resilience in the face of profound loss continued to inspire us.
He stressed that although the departed can never be replaced, the country would ensure that their legacies endure and that they are forever honoured by posterity.
Oluyede hailed the gallant soldiers and officers currently serving across various theatres of operation for their unwavering dedication to duty in strengthening the nation’s security.
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The CDS said their dedication demonstrated exceptional professionalism and loyalty to the country.
He said: “As your Chief of Defence Staff, I am immensely proud of your qualitative output and your commitment to the values of discipline and selfless service. I recognise your battle scars as a silent testament to an unwavering devotion to duty, valour, and an unyielding volition to stand firm against those who would undermine the sanctity of our nation’s freedom and flourishing democracy.
“I make it clear that the Armed Forces shall give no quarter nor mortgage the cradle of our national heritage and security at any time. The boast of our great nation’s adversaries will forever remain poor, and the consequences of their hubris shall forever be disappointment.
“Our Armed Forces will continue to root out all threats to our national security, both local and trans-border.”
Oluyede assured the personnel of the Armed Forces that their welfare remained a top priority in line with his Military Strategic Philosophy.
The CDS promised that the military high command would continue to foster a highly professional Armed Forces with a collective mindset to meet its constitutional responsibilities.
“This will be in collaboration with other security institutions and civil authorities, guided by the invaluable lessons from our veterans as we navigate the various challenges to our peace and security,” he said.
The CDS thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “steadfast leadership, strategic guidance, and unwavering support” to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He added: “I assure Mr. President and my honoured compatriots of our enduring commitment to defending our nation’s democratic values while ensuring peace and security in our beloved nation, Nigeria.”
Also, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has said the Ministry of Defence, under the present administration, is prioritising the expansion of indigenous defence production to ensure sustainable long-term security capabilities.
He said the ongoing policy and legislative reforms were undertaken to revitalise local defence industries, encourage private sector participation, create jobs and deepen local content.
He said it would also reduceg dependence on foreign supplies.
Musa spoke yesterday at the opening of the National Symposium/Lecture series organised in commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, in Abuja.
The minister noted that Nigeria was harnessing the expertise of skilled professionals at home and abroad to strengthen defence innovation and capacity building.
He said locally manufactured defence platforms now reflect the growing strength of Nigeria’s defence industrial base and its contribution to regional security and economic growth.
Musa also said improved training of special forces and stronger collaboration with regional and international partners had enhanced intelligence sharing and operational effectiveness against transnational threats.
The minister added that sustained military offensives across various theatres had recorded notable successes, while improved naval operations and maritime domain awareness had curtailed criminal activities and protected critical national assets.
According to him, security is a shared responsibility and communities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and local governments need to support the military’s efforts to dislodge criminal networks.
Musa urged participants at the symposium to produce practical recommendations to further strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture and national cohesion.
The minister hailed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Service Chiefs and personnel of the Armed Forces for their resilience and dedication.
He assured Nigerians that the military has the resolve and capacity to defeat enemies of the state.
“Nigeria is a great nation. United and resilient, we will overcome our challenges and secure a prosperous future,” he said.
Musa paid tribute to fallen heroes who gave their lives in defence of the nation and praised serving personnel for their courage and professionalism.
The minister also acknowledged the sacrifices of families of deceased personnel, particularly widows, describing their resilience and patriotism as central to Nigeria’s national consciousness.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Richard Pheelangwa, said the symposium was a solemn reminder that the true strength of a nation lies not only in weapons or strategy, but in sacrifice, shared values, collective memory and unwavering commitment to national service.
Pheelangwa said the symposium was also a call to reflect on the ideals of unity, independence and the future that every citizen was duty-bound to protect.
According to him, the resilience of any defence system is measured not merely by firepower, but by the quality of leadership, clarity of vision and unity of purpose.
“As we engage in this symposium, we reaffirm our responsibility to Nigeria and to the global community to uphold peace, stability and the highest standards of professionalism,” he said.
Also, a former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has proposed the establishment of a National Defence Innovation Fund (NDIF) through public–private partnerships to finance research and development in critical dual-use technologies.
He said such a framework would ensure that defence spending stimulates innovation within the civilian technology sector.
Buratai said this yesterday in Abuja while delivering a lecture titled: “Securing Nigeria’s Future: The Armed Forces and National Development,” at the National Symposium/Lecture series to mark this year’s Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) in Abuja.
The former COAS noted that the priority areas include cyber defence, unmanned aerial systems, satellite communications, and renewable energy solutions for forward operating bases (FOBs).
Buratai, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic, urged the country to reposition the Armed Forces as a catalyst for national development and long-term stability.
The former COAS called for far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s security and governance architecture to secure the nation’s future.
He sought an accelerated professionalisation and specialisation of the Armed Forces, stressing the need for a strategic refocus toward high-intensity combat and external defence.
Buratai emphasised that internal security responsibilities should increasingly be assumed by an expanded, better-equipped police force, professionalised under a funded multi-year plan to reach a strength of about 1.5 million officers.
The former COAS said this would dismantle the current dependence on the military for routine internal security duties.
He also called for a revised National Service and Veterans’ Framework, including reforming the National Youth Service Corps into a mandatory National Service Scheme with both military and civic tracks to promote skill acquisition and national cohesion.
Buratai sought the passage of a Veterans’ Rights and Transition Act to guarantee timely pensions, healthcare access, skill conversion programmes and legal protections for retired personnel.
The ex-COAS also recommended the institutionalisation of permanent Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) directorates within the Ministry of Defence and service headquarters to ensure structured collaboration with civilian ministries in post-conflict development, while preventing mission creep by the military.
Buratai stressed the need to deepen cooperation through multilateral frameworks, such as the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Gulf of Guinea maritime security architecture.
He said a collective action remained critical to addressing transnational threats and fostering regional stability.
Discussants of the paper included Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd), Air Vice Marshal E. A. Wonah (retd.) and Rear Admiral Solomon Agada (retd.)
Lt.- Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (retd.) moderated the panel discussion.
Also, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged fellow Nigerians to support the widows of fallen heroes.
The governor urged the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to ensure that they incorporate widows into their empowerment programmes.
Sanwo-Olu spoke at the weekend after a Jumaat service held in commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, at the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.
The governor, who was represented by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, said supporting the widows was a meaningful way of appreciating the sacrifice made by the officers, who laid down their lives in the defence of their country.
He said Armed Forces Remembrance Day provided an opportunity to pray for the souls of fallen heroes, for the safety of those serving in military operations across the country and for the well-being of their families.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the commitment of his administration to the welfare of military families.
The governor said the state maintained regular engagements with widows of fallen heroes.
He said his administration had embarked on the renovation of military barracks and other initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions and welfare of military personnel and their families.
Sanwo-Olu decried the tendency to associate terrorism with religion, particularly Islam.
The governor noted that many Muslims are law-abiding citizens who contribute positively to society and the growth of the nation.
He advised Muslim leaders and faithful to project positive narratives and values of the religion.
Sanwo-Olu enjoined parents to prioritise the upbringing and moral training of their children.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Mijinyawa, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. I. B. Sheriff urged Nigerians to pray for and cooperate with the Armed Forces as they carried out their mandate of protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
He thanked the Lagos State government and residents for their support to the armed forces, enjoining them to sustain their prayers and cooperation with security personnel as they remained committed to safeguarding lives and property across Lagos State.
The Chief Imam of Lagos Secretariat Community Mosques, Dr. Saheed Ahmad, said the security of the country was a collective one that rested on every citizen, noting that addressing communal security challenges was not limited to men and women in uniform, but the duty of all.
Also, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has assured retired military personnel in the state that he will clear their outstanding pensions and gratuities accrued within the last two and a half years.
He promised to do the needful before the end of this month.
Alia made the promise while addressing reporters after the interdenominational church service held to mark this year’s Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day in Makurdi, the state capital.
The governor said his administration has treated the welfare of civil servants with utmost seriousness.
He stressed that salaries, pensions, and gratuities have been paid consistently since he assumed office.
“We’ve been paying gratuities because I’ve taken the welfare of my staff and all civil servants very seriously. In the last two and a half years, I have never missed the payment of salaries and pensions, including gratuities,” he said.
Alia explained that while priority was initially given to clearing approved arrears, deliberate steps are now being taken to ensure that all retirees within the period of his administration receive their entitlements.
“For those within the last two and a half years who have not received their gratuities, they will receive them in a matter of days. All gratuities within this period will be paid,” he said.
According to him, the payment of other outstanding pension and salary arrears will continue based on available financial inflows.
Alia stressed that his government was determined to maintain a healthy financial flow while meeting its obligations to workers.
“I have no reason not to pay civil servants. They work for the state, and this is the only livelihood they know. That is why we do this very deliberately and diligently,” the governor added.
