ENUGU, NIGERIA (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Vice President Kashim Shettima led proceedings marking the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) at the cenotaph of the Unknown Soldier, Eagle Square, Abuja, in the absence of President Bola Tinubu.
Shettima represented the president, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026, a global platform focused on sustainable development and climate action.
The Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Defence to honour fallen Nigerian servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the country.
Those remembered include personnel who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, various peace support operations, and ongoing internal security engagements, particularly the fight against terrorism and insurgency threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence.
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Beyond honouring the dead, the ceremony also celebrates living veterans, while serving as a platform to mobilise financial and moral support for wounded service members and the families of fallen heroes.
Although Armed Forces Remembrance is observed globally, Nigeria’s commemoration reflects its unique historical and national experiences.
As a member of the Commonwealth, Nigeria initially observed Remembrance Day on November 11, in line with other member states, to honour soldiers who died in the World Wars. The date marks the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, symbolising the end of the First World War in 1918.
However, January 15 was later adopted to coincide with the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, giving the remembrance a distinct national significance.
The 2026 AFCRD holds added importance, coming amid recorded successes by the Armed Forces in the Northeast and other parts of the country. The occasion therefore serves as a special moment to acknowledge the courage, professionalism, and sacrifices of officers and men confronting Nigeria’s security challenges to ensure peace and stability.
The Federal Government reiterated its enduring gratitude to these gallant Nigerians and called on citizens, organisations, and the private sector to continue supporting service personnel, particularly the wounded and families left behind by fallen heroes, during the remembrance period and beyond.