The federal government has pledged to train and equip armed forces personnel with combat capabilities and modern wares in order to reduce casualty during operations.
Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar who stated this at the ministerial briefing on 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration called for regional collaboration with West African countries.
He bemoaned the killing 36 officers and soldiers by terrorists in Niger State at the inception of his tenure as defence minister.
He said the armed forces’ response to the incident was also decisive in the circumstance to pursue success.
“The successes recorded by our armed forces have only served as encouragement to persevere until victory is finally assured and all our displaced citizens return home.
“We therefore look forward to adopting proactive approach to combating our security challenges by harnessing our intelligence resources and having strong partnership with our West African neighbours.
“The federal government will also continue to equip the armed forces with combat capabilities, training and equipment with a view to reducing to the barest minimum, causalities due to operations. We are indeed hopeful that the pledge and focus of Mr. President to bring an end to all the security
challenges quickly will be realised”.
He said the country had been battling serious internal security
challenges for over a decade which had stretched the resources of the nation and the armed forces.
“The armed forces of Nigeria has risen up to these challenges not counting the costs in terms of ultimate sacrifice being paid by our troops. For this reason, I can say the situation is gradually improving considering where we were before now.
He said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration was organised annually to honour departed heroes and heroines who paid the supreme prices for peace in the country. “It also serves to appreciate the surviving veterans, serving personnel of our Armed Forces as well as raise funds to support the widows and dependants of fallen heroes/heroines” he said.
The minister noted that the briefing heralded the event and other activities lined up for the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration such as the Nigerian Legion Humanitarian Day which would hold on Friday, 20th October, 2023 at the Nigerian Legion House, Area 3 Garki Abuja and the Nigerian Legion offices in all states of the Federation.
This will be followed by the launch of the Emblem for 2024
Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration w by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, 25th October 2023 at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja.
