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Tag: Shettima

  • 2027: APC Forum rejects alleged plan to drop Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate

    2027: APC Forum rejects alleged plan to drop Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate

    The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has rejected renewed efforts to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election, warning that such a move would amount to a major political error.

    The Forum said recent signals indicate that some elements within the ruling party are pushing for Shettima’s removal, following the omission of his image from a banner featuring APC leaders in the North-East.

    According to the group, the banner, seen during the North-East Zonal public hearing on proposed amendments to the APC constitution in Maiduguri, displayed only the images of President Bola Tinubu, the five APC governors in the zone, and the party’s national legal adviser.

    The development has reignited debate over the future of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 and raised questions about Shettima’s political standing, with some party stakeholders advocating his replacement with a Christian from the North.

    The Forum further noted that certain North-Central groups are calling for a Christian from the region to emerge as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027.

    However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the North-Central APC Forum cautioned that replacing Shettima could endanger the party’s electoral prospects and undermine President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

    It stressed that the North-Central is not seeking the vice-presidential slot, but is instead positioning itself for the presidency in 2031, after the completion of Tinubu’s tenure.

    Read Also: APC support group urges retention of 2022 zoning formula ahead of 2026 convention

    The Forum also warned against introducing religious considerations into political strategy, arguing that the North currently lacks a Christian contender with the grassroots reach, national appeal, and political structure needed to effectively complement Tinubu’s electoral strength.

    In the statement signed by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the group maintained that abandoning the Muslim-Muslim ticket would ultimately benefit opposition parties in the 2027 elections.

    “There is serious danger in changing a winning ticket. We totally and unequivocally reject calls and plans to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the next election.

    “We sincerely advise that President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the party should not listen to such calls because such a decision will turn out to be a grievous political miscalculation,” the Forum said.

    Alleging that those behind the calls do not have the party’s best interest at heart, the Forum warned, “They don’t want to see President Bola Tinubu reelected, that is the only reason anybody who has political knowledge could make such a request.”

    Examining voting patterns in the North and insisting that Tinubu would not gain new votes by replacing Shettima, the Forum warned that removing him on religious grounds would result in the President losing support and votes in the region.

    It noted that if the opposition coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC) selects Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, dropping Shettima would make no strategic difference, as most minorities in the North would still vote for Obi, regardless of who replaces Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate.

    The Forum therefore urged Tinubu to maintain the status quo and retain Shettima as his running mate to secure victory in the 2027 election, while arguing that those calling for a change did not vote for Tinubu in 2023 and would still not support him in 2027, even if Shettima was dropped.

    “Those who are calling on President Bola Tinubu to change Vice President Kashim Shettima, basing their position on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, if you check, you will notice that in 2023, most of their communities voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

    “Now, if Peter Obi is to come out again in 2027 for ADC, what is the guarantee that they will vote for Tinubu even if he drops Shettima and replaces him with a Christian. Does it mean that these people will now leave Peter Obi and vote for Tinubu? That is not going to happen.

    “What is likely to happen in such a situation is that Tinubu will lose support among core northerners, thereby reducing his votes and giving the advantage to Peter Obi. Basic political calculation shows that dropping Shettima makes no sense and is actually very dangerous.

    “We don’t see any reason President Tinubu should listen to those who are asking him to change Shettima. These people did not contribute to his victory in 2023; they were not with him.

    “Tinubu should ignore them and go ahead with Vice President Shettima because those who will vote for him will vote for him. But he will be driving many of his voters away if he changes Shettima.”

    The Forum also emphasized that there are also suggestions that the international community, particularly the United States and other Western powers, may be uncomfortable with the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket and could push for its alteration in 2027, especially against the backdrop of allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

    It, however, maintained that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and must not bow to foreign influence.

    “The Muslim-Muslim ticket gave us victory in 2023. Nigeria is an independent nation, and nobody is going to dictate to us,” the Forum noted, warning that any form of external interference could derail Nigeria’s democratic process and plunge the country into avoidable conflict.

  • Shettima in Davos: Nigeria reframes food security as macro-stability strategy

    Shettima in Davos: Nigeria reframes food security as macro-stability strategy

    …says ‘Back to the Farm’ initiative will tame inflation, cut FX on imports

    Nigeria has unveiled a sweeping macro-strategy that places food security at the heart of national stability, inflation control, and regional cohesion, with Vice President Kashim Shettima declaring that the country no longer views the issue through a narrow agricultural lens.

    Speaking at a high-level panel, “When Food Becomes Security,” at the Congress Centre during the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Vice President Shettima said the Federal Government has begun a multi-dimensional agricultural drive, designed to insulate Nigeria from global shocks while restoring productivity across its food-basket regions.

    According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “In Nigeria, we don’t look at food security purely as an agricultural issue. It is a macroeconomic, security, and governance issue. Our focus is to use food security as a pillar for national security, regional cohesion, and stability.”

    He explained that Nigeria’s food security strategy rests on three pillars: increased food production, environmental sustainability, and deeper regional integration within West Africa.

    According to him, changing global trends and supply-chain disruptions have compelled the country to rebuild resilient food systems tailored to diverse ecological zones.

    “Nigeria is a very large country, and there is an incestuous relationship between economy and ecology. In the Sahelian North, we are dealing with desertification, deforestation, and drought. In the riverine South and parts of the North Central, flooding is our major challenge,” he noted.

    To confront these realities, the Vice President said the government is promoting drought-resistant, flood-tolerant and early-maturing varieties of staples such as rice, sorghum and millet, while redesigning food systems in flood-prone southern regions to withstand climate shocks.

    Security, he added, remains a binding constraint because many conflict-affected areas double as major food-producing zones.

    “Most of the food baskets of our nation are security-challenged. That is why we are creating food security corridors and strengthening community-based security engagements so farmers can return safely to their land,” he said.

    Shettima disclosed the launch of the Back to the Farm Initiative, aimed at resettling displaced farmers with inputs, insurance, and access to capital to restart production.

    On macroeconomic vulnerabilities, he identified import dependence and foreign-exchange volatility as key drivers of food inflation.

    Read Also: Shettima backs AFAN, reiterates FG’s commitment to farmers

    “We largely import wheat, sugar, and dairy products, and this has a direct impact on inflation. Our strategy is to accelerate local production and promote substitutes such as sorghum, millet, and cassava flour to correct these structural imbalances,” he said.

    Positioning agriculture as a frontline response to economic and security threats, the Vice President said Nigeria’s approach aligns food security with national stability, inflation control, and regional cooperation.

    He further stated that the country, dubbed “the African giant”, has “woken up from its slumber” under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that within 12 months the government would make “it possible for smallholders and fishers to become investable at scale.”

    Highlighting continental dynamics, Shettima said intra-African trade has “almost become a necessity,” adding that “there have been some alignments.”

    He urged African leaders to intensify cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area, expressing optimism that ongoing Renewed Hope Agenda reforms would soon translate into climate adaptation moving from pilot to reality, and a boom in intra-African trade far beyond 10.7 per cent.

  • Shettima backs AFAN, reiterates FG’s commitment to farmers

    Shettima backs AFAN, reiterates FG’s commitment to farmers

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has pledged the Federal Government’s continued support for Nigerian farmers under the auspices of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), saying that when farmers thrive, the nation thrives.

    Shettima gave the assurance at the closing of the three-day General Assembly of Farmers (GAF) meeting with the theme, “Empowering Farmers, Fostering Collaboration,” held in Abuja.

    Speaking on behalf of the Vice President, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr Uju Rochas-Anwukah, said the Nutrition 774 Initiative places farmers at the centre of Nigeria’s fight against malnutrition.

    She said agriculture was not just an economic policy but also a security, peace and nation-healing strategy, adding that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, agriculture occupied a central position in national recovery.

    According to her, Nigeria cannot fix nutrition without fixing food systems, and food systems cannot be fixed without farmers, stressing that farmers must not be treated as an afterthought.

    She said the Nutrition 774 Initiative aligns agriculture, health, education and livelihoods, noting that nutrition does not begin in hospitals but on farms.

    Rochas-Anwukah added that the Office of the Vice President was ready to partner with AFAN to ensure farmers succeed, families prosper and the nation grows.

    She also noted that the fundamentals of life, food, shelter and clothing, begin from the soil, adding that no nation industrialises without first securing its agricultural foundation.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), said farmers faced significant security challenges but assured them of the government’s commitment to improving safety in farming communities.

    Musa urged farmers to report security threats, stressing that protecting farmers was critical to national food production and food security.

    Earlier, in his address, AFAN President, Dr Farouk Mudi, highlighted the impact of climate change, rising input costs and insecurity on agricultural productivity.

    Mudi said delayed rainfall, flooding and high fertiliser prices were negatively affecting farming, adding that stronger policies and increased investments were required to secure the future of agriculture in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Shettima commissions first-ever Nigeria House in Davos

    He said the country was witnessing erratic rainfall patterns and disappearing harmattan, noting that delayed rains and flash floods had destroyed over 500,000 hectares of rice and maize farms.

    Mudi said the cost of fertiliser and agrochemicals had risen sharply, making farming increasingly unaffordable for many farmers.
    He also described Nigeria’s livestock sector as being in crisis, despite the country’s huge livestock population, noting that insecurity and conflict had continued to undermine its potential.

    According to him, AFAN lost over 10,000 lives and about N500 billion worth of property to farmer-herder clashes in the last 10 years, while more than three million cattle were lost to rustling and unplanned migration.

    Mudi said the association strongly supported the National Livestock Transformation Plan to enable herders adopt modern ranching and allow farmers cultivate their land without fear.

    He added that Nigeria spends billions of dollars annually on food imports such as wheat, sugar and fish, money which should benefit local farmers.

    He noted that agriculture was once a core part of Nigeria’s educational system and rural economy, but declining emphasis on practical agriculture, insecurity and climate challenges had weakened local food production and discouraged youth participation in the sector. (NAN)

  • Shettima commissions first-ever Nigeria House in Davos

    Shettima commissions first-ever Nigeria House in Davos

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday formally opened Nigeria House at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the country’s first-ever sovereign pavilion at the annual meeting as a statement of Nigeria’s renewed seriousness and readiness to engage the global economy as an active participant.

    Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Shettima said nations do not prosper in isolation and stressed that Nigeria’s future growth depends on deliberate, structured engagement with the world. 

    “For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own,” he said, adding that Nigeria House “reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose.”

    The Vice President noted that although Nigeria House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform, bringing together leadership across trade, investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture, its success would ultimately be driven by private enterprise. 

    In a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said: “government can open doors and de-risk environments; only enterprise can animate growth and translate policy into productivity”.

    Shettima said the commissioning coincides with early dividends from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, citing stronger non-oil growth and improved macroeconomic indicators. 

    Read Also: Obasanjo holds closed-door meeting with Babangida in Minna

    He added that services, agriculture, finance and technology are expanding, while non-oil revenues now account for a larger share of government collections. 

    Inflationary pressures, he said, eased through 2025, foreign reserves improved, and stability returned to the foreign exchange market.

    Inviting global investors to engage through the new platform, the Vice President said Nigeria House would host forward-looking conversations. 

    “Nigeria is open for business, and more importantly, open for collaboration. Progress is not a monologue; it is a dialogue,” he said.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, applauded Shettima’s support for the project, describing Nigeria House as a product of strong public-private partnership and a symbol of renewed national pride. 

    She said investment playbooks launched at the event outline opportunities across solid minerals, climate-smart agriculture, creative and digital sectors, aligning with the administration’s drive to rebuild trust and restore credibility.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yano, said Nigeria House would consolidate gains of ongoing economic transformation by attracting non-oil investments and advocating fairer access to finance for emerging markets. 

    The Lead Execution Partner, Omowunmi Imoukhuede, said the pavilion offers a rare chance to tell Nigeria’s investment story to the world.

    The commissioning followed a Global Business Roundtable on resilient supply chains for the energy transition. 

    Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Ude; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; heads of agencies and captains of industry.

  • WEF 2026: Shettima commissions first-ever Nigeria House in Davos

    WEF 2026: Shettima commissions first-ever Nigeria House in Davos

    …says sovereign pavilion signals renewed resolve to shape global economic conversations

    …investment playbooks unveiled for solid minerals, agriculture, creative and digital sectors

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday formally opened Nigeria House at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, describing the country’s first-ever sovereign pavilion at the annual meeting as a statement of Nigeria’s renewed seriousness and readiness to engage the global economy as an active participant.

    Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Shettima said nations do not prosper in isolation and stressed that Nigeria’s future growth depends on deliberate, structured engagement with the world. 

    “For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own,” he said, adding that Nigeria House “reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose.”

    The Vice President noted that although Nigeria House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform, bringing together leadership across trade, investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture, its success would ultimately be driven by private enterprise. 

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “government can open doors and de-risk environments; only enterprise can animate growth and translate policy into productivity”.

    Shettima said the commissioning coincides with early dividends from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, citing stronger non-oil growth and improved macroeconomic indicators. 

    He added that services, agriculture, finance and technology are expanding, while non-oil revenues now account for a larger share of government collections. 

    Inflationary pressures, he said, eased through 2025, foreign reserves improved, and stability returned to the foreign exchange market.

    Inviting global investors to engage through the new platform, the Vice President said Nigeria House would host forward-looking conversations. 

    “Nigeria is open for business, and more importantly, open for collaboration. Progress is not a monologue; it is a dialogue,” he said.

    Earlier, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, applauded Shettima’s support for the project, describing Nigeria House as a product of strong public-private partnership and a symbol of renewed national pride. 

    She said investment playbooks launched at the event outline opportunities across solid minerals, climate-smart agriculture, creative and digital sectors, aligning with the administration’s drive to rebuild trust and restore credibility.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yano, said Nigeria House would consolidate gains of ongoing economic transformation by attracting non-oil investments and advocating fairer access to finance for emerging markets. 

    The Lead Execution Partner, Omowunmi Imoukhuede, said the pavilion offers a rare chance to tell Nigeria’s investment story to the world.

    The commissioning followed a Global Business Roundtable on resilient supply chains for the energy transition. 

    Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Ude; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; heads of agencies and captains of industry.

  • Nigeria reaffirms ECOWAS leadership as Shettima attends Guinea president’s inauguration

    Nigeria reaffirms ECOWAS leadership as Shettima attends Guinea president’s inauguration

    Nigeria yesterday reaffirmed its leadership role within the West African sub-region as Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attended the swearing-in and inauguration of Mamadi Doumbouya as President of Guinea.

     The ceremony, held at the GLC Stadium in Nongo, Conakry, followed President Doumbouya’s victory in the December 2025 general elections, which formally ended a four-year military transition in the country.

     Vice President Shettima’s outing in Conakry was highlighted in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.

     Vice President Shettima’s presence at the inauguration underscored Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance and regional stability, reinforcing its long-standing leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Under Guinea’s new constitution, approved by national referendum in September 2025, President Doumbouya is to serve a single seven-year term, renewable once.

     The revised charter extended the presidential tenure from five to seven years.

     The inauguration attracted several African leaders, particularly from West Africa, including representatives from Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and South Africa.

    Read Also: ECOWAS, AU express concern over US seizure of Venezuela’s president

     Other dignitaries in attendance included the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, alongside presidents and senior officials from Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and other African states.

    In his inaugural address, President Doumbouya pledged to uphold Guinea’s constitution and democratic principles, vowing to pursue transparent governance and protect the interests of all Guineans.

     He assured that peace and national cohesion would remain non-negotiable under his administration.

     Nigeria’s participation, officials said, aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which positions the country as a stabilising force in the region while advocating democracy as a foundation for shared prosperity.

     Vice President Shettima’s visit also served as a strategic engagement to strengthen bilateral ties and expand the economic corridor between Nigeria and Guinea, as the colourful ceremony drew a massive turnout of citizens amid fanfare in the Guinean capital.

  • Nigeria reaffirms ECOWAS leadership as Shettima attends Guinea president’s inauguration

    Nigeria reaffirms ECOWAS leadership as Shettima attends Guinea president’s inauguration

    Nigeria on Saturday reaffirmed its leadership role within the West African sub-region as Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, attended the swearing-in and inauguration of Mamadi Doumbouya as President of Guinea.

    The ceremony, held at the GLC Stadium in Nongo, Conakry, followed President Doumbouya’s victory in the December 2025 general elections, which formally ended a four-year military transition in the country.

    Shettima’s outing in Conakry was highlighted in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.

    His presence at the inauguration underscored Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance and regional stability, reinforcing its long-standing leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Under Guinea’s new constitution, approved by national referendum in September 2025, President Doumbouya is to serve a single seven-year term, renewable once. 

    The revised charter extended the presidential tenure from five to seven years.

    The inauguration attracted several African leaders, particularly from West Africa, including representatives from Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and South Africa.

    Other dignitaries in attendance included the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, alongside presidents and senior officials from Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and other African states.

    In his inaugural address, President Doumbouya pledged to uphold Guinea’s constitution and democratic principles, vowing to pursue transparent governance and protect the interests of all Guineans. 

    He assured that peace and national cohesion would remain non-negotiable under his administration.

    Nigeria’s participation, officials said, aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which positions the country as a stabilising force in the region while advocating democracy as a foundation for shared prosperity.

    Shettima’s visit also served as a strategic engagement to strengthen bilateral ties and expand the economic corridor between Nigeria and Guinea, as the colourful ceremony drew a massive turnout of citizens amid fanfare in the Guinean capital.

  • Shettima arrives Guinea for Doumbouya’s inauguration

    Shettima arrives Guinea for Doumbouya’s inauguration

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Conakry, the Guinean capital, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of President-elect Mamady Doumbouya.

    According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima was received on arrival by senior Guinean government officials and members of the Nigerian diplomatic corps ahead of the official ceremony scheduled for Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium.

    Doumbouya’s inauguration follows his victory in the December 2025 general elections, formally bringing to a close a four-year military transition and restoring constitutional governance in Guinea.

    Shettima’s presence at the ceremony underscores Nigeria’s leadership role within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its sustained commitment to democratic rule and political stability across the sub-region.

    READ ALSO: Ibadan Bodija explosion victims urge Makinde to use N30bn FG support for compensation

    Under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, Nigeria has continued to position itself as a stabilising force in West Africa, advocating democratic governance as a foundation for regional peace, security and shared prosperity.

    The visit is also expected to serve as a strategic engagement to deepen bilateral ties and expand the economic corridor between Nigeria and Guinea, reinforcing cooperation in trade, investment and regional integration.

  • Shettima departs Abuja to represent Tinubu at Guinea inauguration, heads to Davos

    Shettima departs Abuja to represent Tinubu at Guinea inauguration, heads to Davos

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of Guinea’s President Mamadi Doumbouya in Conakry.

    The Vice President is also scheduled to proceed to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, to attend the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF 2026) following his participation in the presidential inauguration.

    According to a statement issued Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, on Friday, Shettima will represent President Tinubu at the inauguration ceremony slated for Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium, Nongo, Conakry, following President Doumbouya’s election victory.

    The statement said the Vice President’s attendance at the ceremony underscores Nigeria’s strategic engagement in regional leadership, economic partnership and global economic integration under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    It added that the visit forms part of Nigeria’s leadership role within ECOWAS, including efforts to support Guinea’s return to constitutional order after a four-year transition.

    Beyond diplomatic solidarity, the trip is also aimed at deepening bilateral trade relations, which have recently recorded growth, with Nigerian exports to Guinea, particularly manufactured goods and agricultural products, rising to $3.29 million.

    From Guinea, Vice President Shettima will proceed to Davos to participate in WEF 2026, scheduled to hold from January 19 to January 23, 2026.

    The 2026 World Economic Forum, themed “A Spirit of Dialogue,” will convene leaders from government, business, civil society, and the scientific and cultural communities to promote trusted dialogue, collaborative problem-solving and future-oriented solutions to shared global challenges.

    Key discussions at the forum will centre on the transformative changes driven by frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, next-generation biotechnology and advanced energy systems.

    The forum aims to examine how these innovations can be responsibly deployed to unlock new engines of growth, expand access across emerging markets, invest in skills for a rapidly changing workforce, and promote sustainable and equitable development.

    While in Davos, the Vice President is expected to engage global leaders and investors on Nigeria’s economic reform agenda, emerging investment opportunities and Africa’s role in shaping a resilient and inclusive global future.

    Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his engagements in Davos.

  • Shettima leads Nigerian to honour Armed Forces, fallen heroes

    Shettima leads Nigerian to honour Armed Forces, fallen heroes

    Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading national tributes to fallen heroes as Nigeria is marks the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) at the cenotaph of the Unknown Soldier, the National Arcade, Abuja.

    Shettima is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is in the United Arab Emirates attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. 

    The AFCRD, organised annually by the Ministry of Defence, is honouring officers and men of the Armed Forces who paid the supreme price in defence of the nation. 

    Those being remembered include personnel who died during the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, peace support operations, and internal security engagements, particularly the ongoing fight against terrorism and other threats to Nigeria’s stability.

    Beyond remembrance, the event is also celebrating living veterans and is serving as a platform to mobilise financial and moral support for their welfare, as well as for the families of fallen service members.

    Although Armed Forces Remembrance is observed globally, Nigeria’s commemoration reflects its distinct historical experience. 

    Read Also: Shettima: Enduring legacies must be built on discipline, consistency, strength of character

    As a member of the Commonwealth, the country previously marked Remembrance Day on November 11, in line with other member states, to honour casualties of the World wars. 

    The date, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, marks the formal end of the First World War in 1918.

    However, January 15 is now being observed to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War and to align the remembrance with national realities.

    This year’s AFCRD holds special significance, coinciding with reported operational gains by the Armed Forces in the Northeast and other parts of the country. 

    The ceremony therefore serves as an occasion to acknowledge the courage, professionalism and sacrifices of officers and men confronting Nigeria’s security challenges to ensure peace and stability for citizens.

    The Federal Government has reiterated its enduring gratitude to the Armed Forces and has called on citizens, organisations and the private sector to continue supporting service personnel, particularly the wounded and the families of fallen heroes, during the remembrance period and beyond.