Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday led top government officials, military chiefs and diplomats at the National Arcade, Abuja, to commemorate the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day with a solemn parade and wreath-laying ceremony.
The event drew the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President, Benjamin Kalu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; and other senior government functionaries, alongside members of the diplomatic corps and security agencies.
Dignitaries were guided in a slow ceremonial march to the cenotaph by soldiers, where wreaths were laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honour of officers and men who died in the line of duty while defending the nation.
Interfaith prayers were offered for both fallen and serving personnel who contributed to national security, unity and global peace.
The prayers were led by senior Christian and Muslim clerics drawn from the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy.
A minute of silence followed the prayers, after which an artillery gun salute was fired to symbolise respect and gratitude for the sacrifices of the departed heroes.
Vice President Shettima formally commenced the wreath-laying, accompanied by the Commander of the Guards Brigade.
He was followed by the Senate President, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Minister of Defence, and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Abbas Salaheeden.
Service chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chiefs of Army, Naval and Air Staff, and the Inspector General of Police, also laid wreaths in remembrance of fallen colleagues.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed annually on January 15, honours veterans of the world wars, the Nigerian Civil War and all members of the Armed Forces who have laid down their lives in defence of the nation.
