In keeping with the tradition of Armed Forces Remembrance Day, President Muhammadu Buhari earlier Saturday, January 15 laid wreath in honour of the fallen heroes.
His Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed also honour the soldiers.
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Others who had the honour of laying the wreath included the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashi Magashi, Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marahal Ishiaka Oladayo Amao and the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba.
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Today marks Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Nigeria, an annual event commemorated to celebrate the nation’s servicemen and fallen heroes.
The colourful ceremony, which is observed every January 15, usually holds at the National Arcade, opposite the Eagle Square, Abuja.
The 2022 edition featured parade by the Nigerian Armed Forces. The event holds simultaneously across the 36 States of the federation.
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High point of the event was the release of white pigeons symbolising freedom and peace of the nation.
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The event, celebrated on January 15 each year, also honours veterans of World War I and II, as well as the Nigerian Civil War. It is a day set aside for sober reflections on the significance of the armed forces to the country.
While Armed Forces Remembrance Day is celebrated on November 11 every year globally, it is known as the armistice day, commemorating the end of the first World War.
However, with the formal end of Nigerian Civil War following the surrender of the Biafran secessionists on January 15, 1970, the date was changed to mark the restoration of Nigeria’s unity.
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During the event held at the National Arcade in Abuja, the President also reviewed a presidential parade.
President @MBuhari arrives National Arcade, Eagle Square to participate in the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day parade and wreath laying ceremony. pic.twitter.com/iyrTM93rrG
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) January 15, 2022
Other dignitaries who graced the event include: Minister of State Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, SGF, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige among others.
After prayers were said in both Christian and Islamic ways, President Buhari who is the Special Guest of Honour at the event laid a wreath to honour the fallen heroes.
Thereafter, Professor Osinbajo and others took turns to pay respect to the soldiers who paid the supreme price while protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.
In the course of the celebration, ceremonies are scheduled to hold across various states of the federation during which governors are expected to pay tributes to the nation’s fallen heroes.
Ahead of the event in the nation’s capital, the Federal Government ordered the closure of parts of the roads accessing the arcade of the Federal Secretariat complexes and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as early as 2pm on Friday.
The announcement was made by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, who informed the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the closure.
See some photos from the beautiful ceremony below (Photos by Channels TV);
