NIGERIA’S Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, paid glowing tributes to the nation’s armed forces for their sacrifices and commitment to guaranteeing security across the country.
Shettima gave the commendations while leading other government functionaries at the wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja.
He represented President Bola Tinubu who is reportedly in the United Arab Emirates, participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW)
The wreath-laying ceremony involves the placing of flowers at memorial tombs of fallen soldiers, where prayers are observed and guns are fired.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Benjamin Kalu, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, and other dignitaries attended the event.
Similarly, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians and leaders at all levels to recommit themselves to building a nation worthy of the sacrifices of fallen members of the Armed Forces.
Obi made the appeal in a post on his verified X account on Thursday in honour of military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The former Anambra State governor said the day stands as a solemn reminder of the courage and selflessness of soldiers who stood on the frontlines to defend the nation, often at the cost of their own lives.
On this solemn day of Armed Forces Remembrance, we honour those who have laid down their lives in service to our nation. This special annual event serves as a reminder for us to recommit ourselves to being a nation worthy of their sacrifice,he said.
He explained that the true legacy of fallen soldiers lives on in the hearts of the people they protected, describing them as heroes who endured harsh conditions to safeguard the peace and security of the nation.
We are told that a soldiers true grave is not in the earth, but in the hearts and minds of those they protected—those who slept peacefully while their heroes stood guard. In the heat of the sun and the chill of the night, they stood at the frontlines for us.
Perhaps the most fitting honour we can bestow upon these heroes is to live lives that promote peace and progress. We must provide leadership that gives hope to the hopeless. For the families of these fallen heroes, today is not just a date on the calendar; it is a reminder of an empty chair and a voice that is no longer heard. While we cannot fill that void, we want to assure you that their immense sacrifice was never in vain. God bless our fallen heroes, and may their souls continue to rest in eternal honour,he added.
The ICIR reports that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Defence to honour Nigerian military personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.
It recognises soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, various peacekeeping missions, and internal security operations, including the ongoing fight against terrorism that threatens Nigerias unity.
Beyond rememberingthe fallen, the parade also celebrates living veterans and serves as a platform to mobilise moral and financial support for their welfare and for the families of deceased service members.
Although Remembrance Day is observed globally, Nigerias commemoration reflects its unique historical experience.
As a Commonwealth nation, Nigeria originally marked Remembrance Day on November 11, in line with other member countries, to honour the end of the First World War in 1918 — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
However, the country later adopted January 15 to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War, making the observance more reflective of Nigerias own national history.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.