Government officials joined President Muhammadu Buhari, today, to lay wreath in honour of fallen military personnel who died in many fronts in defence of the fatherland.
The ceremony which commenced at ten o’clock on Friday, had senior military officials, government functionaries and members of the diplomatic corps as guests.
Correspondent Nnabuchi Okey Nnabuchi who was at the National Arcade venue of the event said usual military drills such as march past, special gun salutes and prayers characterized the ceremony.
At exactly ten o’clock on Friday morning, all that matter in the country especially the military, gathered at the national cenotaph to pay last respect to those who made supreme sacrifice to the motherland.
Military formations representing the Army, Navy and Airforce dressed in their various ceremonial attires to grace the occasion.
Though a solemn event, the armed forces remembrance day is usually a glamorous occasion where the military showcase its professionalism particularly in military-civil relations.
The COVID-19 protocols also made today’s occasion different, as authorities endeavored to maintain the protocols to reduce or avoid the spread of the deadly virus among Nigerians.
The ceremony kick-started with the arrival of dignitaries, starting with the service chiefs and the inspector general of police through to the vice president who was given a usual half national anthem.
The arrival of the president expectedly, heralded the commencement of the event as the military band sounded the full national anthem as the national salute.
The programme of the event was being exhausted as President Muhammadu Buhari led other senior government functionaries to lay his sixth wreath in respect to fallen military personnel.
It’s a yearly memorial for dead soldiers and government is poised not to let the labour of the late great soldiers be in vain.
Though a lot has been done to better the lots of next of kins of the slayed soldiers, their widows need more to keep body and soul together.
While they are thankful for government interventions, they want Nigerians at all level to also make a contribution to better the welfare for dead and living military personnel.
The highlight of the occasion were twenty-one gun salute for the fallen heroes, signing of the anniversary register by the president and the release of white pigeons showing that Nigeria is still in peace irrespective of numerous security challenges bedevilling the country.
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