Our distinguished Chief Guest, Vice Admiral Ather Mukhtar – HI(M),
Your Excellency the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Amb Maj Gen Ashimiyu Adebayo Olaniyi, OON,mni.
Your excellencies, high commissioners and ambassadors,
Very senior military officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces,
Director generals MOFA,
Your Excellencies Defence advisers and attachés’,
Captains of Defence Industries,
Our beloved spouses and family members,
Distinguished invited guests,
It is my singular honour and privilege to welcome you to the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, which is observed annually every 15th January, to remember and honour our fallen heroes and compatriots. This Event is also to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War and appreciate the sacrifices of our veterans who fought in the First and Second World Wars, United Nations peace keeping operations, internal security operations and counter terrorism war not only to safeguard a united and prosperous Nigeria, but also to bequeath us a safer and more peaceful world. Furthermore, the celebration affords us the opportunity to project the Nigerian Armed forces as instruments of national unity, integration and development.- The Nigerian Armed Forces have participated in the First and Second World Wars and the Nigerian Civil War. In 1990 and in 1997 Nigeria spearheaded a peacekeeping force under the auspices of ECOMOG into Liberia and later Sierra Leone following outbreak of civil wars those countries. Again in August 2003 Nigerian troops deployed into Liberia, to provide an interim presence until the United Nations Mission in Liberia(UNMIL) arrived.
- In October 2004, Nigerian troops deployed into Darfur, in Western Sudan to spearhead an African Unionforce to stop the genocide in that Region. Nigeria has contributed more than 20,000 troops to various UN missions since 1960. Nigeriantroops have served in UN India-Pakistan Observer Mission (UNIPOM) 1965, UNIFIL (Interim Force) in Lebanon 1978, the UN Observer mission, UNIIMOG supervising the Iran-Iraq ceasefire in 1988, former Yugoslavia 1998, East-Timor 1999, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) 2004. Nigerian Armed Forcesspearheaded the West African initiative to save democracy in the Gambia by ensuring a peaceful hand-over of power to the newly elected President Adama Barrowin January 2017. Nigeria also helped to restore the democratically elected government of Sao Tome and Principe and Guinea Bissau following military misadventures in those countries in 2003 and in 2012.
- Nigeria’s training institutions such as the Nigerian Defence Academy, Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the National Defence College have trained officers from friendly countries such as Liberia, Serria Leone, Cameroun, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Gambia, South Africa, South Korea and a host of others.
- Nigerian Armed Forces have partnered with many friendly countries, most of whom are represented in this esteemed audience, in our bid to build a peaceful and prosperous nation and contribute to a better world. Pakistan Armed Forces have been a key ally in this regard. The Nigerian Pakistan defence cooperation has spanned decades, beginning in the early 60s. The military cooperation between the 2 brotherly countries span areas of training, acquisition of hardware, logistics and platforms of the NA, NN and NAF. Pakistan has also cooperated with Nigeria in terms of military hardware to prosecute the counter terrorism war against Boko haram insurgents. Nigeria acquired some units of the versatile Super Mushshaq trainer aircraft and is in the process acquiring the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter to enhance the capabilities of the NAF.
- The Nigerian Armed Forces in partnership with friends and allies, continue to transform and innovate, to meet contemporary and future challenges. As a stop gap measure to deal with Boko Haram and Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgency, we have re-energised the military multinational cooperation with our neighbours such as Chad, Cameroun Niger and Benin, and other international stakeholders and friends such as Pakistan, South Africa, Russia, the UK, France, Ukraine, and the USA among many others. In this bid, we have inducted into our armed forces a mix of several military hardware and platforms with acquisition of some platform like the JF-17 Thunder multi role fighter aircraft and Super Tucano light attack aircraft in advanced stages of procurement. Thanks to the massive and indispensable support of many friendly countries and allies, particularly Pakistan, the menace of terrorism is being effectively handled.
- The Nigerian Armed Forces is also gender sensitive. The NA has recently commissioned a special Women’s Corps. The armed forces of Nigeria have always had women in the 3 services who have participated in both internal and international military operations in the restoration of peace in the conflict zones. There duties not only include non-combat roles like medical, education and administration but combat and combat support roles as well. Our women are given equal opportunities like the men to pursue their dreams in various fields in the 3 services. We have female paratroopers, armoured tanks drivers, pilots, air traffic controllers, and engineers, OICs of patrol boats and Special Forces. Women have also risen to the ranks of Major Generals and equivalent in all the 3 services.
- Distinguishedladies and gentlemen, let me once again reiterate the firm commitment of the Nigerian Armed Forces to be a responsible member of the international community in promoting world peace and to respect the International Humanitarian Law in all our operations.
- Excellences’, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Please permit me to invite you topay tributes to our fallen heroes by rising, as we play the Last Post in honour of our comrades. Those in uniforms may please salute………The Last Post please….
May the souls of our departed compatriots Rest in Peace.
