President Bola Tinubu has honoured the memory of fallen heroes and serving members of the Nigerian Armed Forces as the nation observes the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, describing January 15 as an opportunity for the country to pause and recognise those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty and peace.
In a statement personally signed and released on Thursday, the President emphasised the enduring significance of the annual commemoration, declaring that while the names of fallen soldiers might not always be remembered by all, their courage remains the foundation upon which Nigeria’s freedom and peace are built.
“Their names might not always be remembered, but their courage sustains our freedom and peace. A nation that forgets its fallen heroes loses its direction; Nigeria, however, remembers,” Tinubu said in the statement.
The President directed particular attention to the families of deceased military personnel, acknowledging the profound personal cost borne by widows, children, and other loved ones left behind by fallen servicemen and women.
“I also speak today to the families of our fallen heroes—widows, children, and loved ones. Your loss is profound, and no words can replace the sacrifices of your loved ones. They served Nigeria with honour, and our people will never forget their sacrifices,” the President stated.
Beyond commemorating the dead, Tinubu used the occasion to commend serving military personnel across all branches of the Armed Forces for their dedication and professionalism in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and citizens, often under challenging circumstances and far from their families.
“Today, we celebrate our serving personnel. From the frontlines to support positions, on land, sea, and air, you carry the heavy responsibility of protecting our people and sovereignty with discipline, courage, and professionalism, often far from home,” he said.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and dignity of members of the Armed Forces, pledging continued support for military personnel as they discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
“As President and Commander-in-Chief, I reaffirm my commitment to the welfare and dignity of our Armed Forces. A secure Nigeria stands behind those who defend it. We will continue to support them in action,” Tinubu stated.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed annually on January 15, serves as Nigeria’s official day of tribute to military personnel who lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, as well as those who died in subsequent peacekeeping operations both within Nigeria’s borders and on international missions under the auspices of regional and global bodies.
The commemoration has its roots in the immediate post-civil war period when Nigeria sought to heal the wounds of a devastating conflict that claimed an estimated one to three million lives and tested the country’s unity to its limits. The observance was established as a national day to honour not only those who fell during the civil war but also to recognise the ongoing sacrifices made by Nigerian troops in various security operations.
Since the end of the civil war, Nigerian military personnel have participated in numerous domestic security operations, including counter-insurgency campaigns against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province in the Northeast, operations against banditry and kidnapping syndicates in the Northwest and North Central regions, and efforts to combat militancy and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Internationally, Nigerian troops have distinguished themselves in peacekeeping missions across the African continent and beyond, serving under the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States, and the African Union. Nigerian forces have deployed to conflict zones including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others, earning respect for their professionalism and commitment to restoring peace in war-torn regions.
The annual Remembrance Day ceremony typically includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Arcade in Abuja, where the President, accompanied by service chiefs and other dignitaries, lays wreaths in honour of fallen heroes. Similar ceremonies are replicated across state capitals, with governors and other officials paying their respects at cenotaphs and war memorials.
The occasion also features the release of pigeons symbolising peace, a military parade, and visits to veterans’ hospitals and homes. The Nigerian Legion, an organisation comprising military veterans, plays a central role in coordinating activities and advocating for improved welfare packages for former service personnel and families of the deceased.
In recent years, the welfare of military personnel and their families has become an increasingly prominent subject of national discourse, particularly as the Armed Forces contend with multiple security challenges across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Concerns have been raised about equipment shortages, inadequate healthcare facilities for wounded soldiers, delays in pension payments for retired personnel, and insufficient support for widows and orphans of fallen servicemen.
President Tinubu’s administration has faced growing expectations to address these welfare concerns while simultaneously prosecuting ongoing military operations against insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements threatening Nigeria’s internal security.
The President’s pledge on Thursday to continue supporting the Armed Forces “in action” will likely be scrutinised in the context of budgetary allocations, equipment procurement, and the overall conditions under which Nigerian troops operate.
