Vice President Shettima leads Nigerians to honour Armed Forces, fallen heroes

•Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day in Abuja

 

Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading national tributes to fallen heroes as Nigeria is marks the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) at the cenotaph of the Unknown Soldier, the National Arcade, Abuja.

 

Shettima is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is in the United Arab Emirates attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, reports The Nation.

 

The AFCRD, organised annually by the Ministry of Defence, is honouring officers and men of the Armed Forces who paid the supreme price in defence of the nation.

 

Those being remembered include personnel who died during the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, peace support operations, and internal security engagements, particularly the ongoing fight against terrorism and other threats to Nigeria’s stability.

 

Beyond remembrance, the event is also celebrating living veterans and is serving as a platform to mobilise financial and moral support for their welfare, as well as for the families of fallen service members.

 

Although Armed Forces Remembrance is observed globally, Nigeria’s commemoration reflects its distinct historical experience.

 

As a member of the Commonwealth, the country previously marked Remembrance Day on November 11, in line with other member states, to honour casualties of the World wars.

 

The date, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, marks the formal end of the First World War in 1918.

 

However, January 15 is now being observed to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War and to align the remembrance with national realities.

 

This year’s AFCRD holds special significance, coinciding with reported operational gains by the Armed Forces in the Northeast and other parts of the country.

 

The ceremony therefore serves as an occasion to acknowledge the courage, professionalism and sacrifices of officers and men confronting Nigeria’s security challenges to ensure peace and stability for citizens.

 

The federal government has reiterated its enduring gratitude to the Armed Forces and has called on citizens, organisations and the private sector to continue supporting service personnel, particularly the wounded and the families of fallen heroes, during the remembrance period and beyond.