The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, joined the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, and other Service Chiefs at the Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, to mark the commencement of activities for the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD).
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The event, held in the presence of the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Kana, formally launched the nationwide observance themed “Valour, Sacrifice and Unity: Honouring Our Heroes.
” It served as an avenue to pay tribute to the courage, resilience, and patriotism of men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces whose sacrifices continue to secure the nation’s peace and unity.
In his address, Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar highlighted significant operational gains achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
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He noted that the Armed Forces had neutralised thousands of terrorists, facilitated the surrender of tens of thousands of insurgents, and rescued numerous hostages across various theatres of operation.
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The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to troop welfare and the modernisation Nigeria’s defence sector through indigenous military production and reintegration programmes for veterans.
Among the key initiatives mentioned were the “Thank A Soldier” digital platform and the Reclaiming the Ungoverned Space for Economic Benefits Programme (RUSEB-P)both aimed at supporting personnel and promoting community resilience in post-conflict areas.
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He commended the collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, the Armed Forces, and the Nigerian people, emphasizing that national security and unity remain collective responsibilities.
The 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day will include a series of commemorative events nationwide to honour fallen heroes and celebrate the service of active-duty personnel.