Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday led national tributes to fallen heroes as Nigeria marked the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) at the cenotaph of the Unknown Soldier, National Arcade, Abuja.
Mr. Shettima was representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
This annual event, organized by the Ministry of Defence, honors the officers and service members of the Nigerian Armed Forces who gave their lives in defense of the country. Among those honored are those who died in World War I and World War II, the Nigerian Civil War, peacekeeping missions, and internal security operations, including counterterrorism and other threats to national stability.
In addition to commemorating the fallen, the ceremony also honors veterans and helps to mobilize financial and moral support for the wounded, veterans, and the families of fallen heroes.
Although National Armed Forces Day is observed worldwide, Nigeria’s commemoration reflects the country’s unique history. As a Commonwealth nation, Nigeria, like other member states, has traditionally observed Remembrance Day on November 11th to honor the victims of the World Wars. This date corresponds to the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the day the First World War officially ended in 1918.
Today, January 15th is observed to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War and to firmly establish the memory of those who fell in Nigerian history and reality.
This year’s Armed Forces Day commemorations take place against the backdrop of operational successes by the military in the Northeast and other parts of the country. This commemoration also honors the courage, professionalism, and dedication of those who address Nigeria’s security challenges in the service of peace and stability.
The Federal Government reiterated its gratitude to the armed forces and called on citizens, organizations and the private sector to continue supporting the military, especially the wounded and the families of fallen heroes, during this period of remembrance and beyond.
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