By Gabriel Atumeyi
The week long activities marking the 2021 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) which started on July 1, 2021, reached its climax with the grand finale which featured the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Awards and Lecture series in Abuja.
A total of 10 Officers and seven soldiers were rewarded with the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Awards for their outstanding performances in their assigned roles in the Nigerian army.
This year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) which had as it’s theme “A professional and Ready Nigerian Army: A Prerequisite for Successful Operations in a Joint Environment”, started with the Chief of Army Staff staff briefing journalists on the number of activities to mark the event.
The activities included prayers for the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces, prayers for the souls of the personnel who gave their lives in defending the fatherland, notable among which were personnel who lost their lives in a plane crash in Kaduna including Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru. There were also prayers for the nation as a whole in both mosque and Church service.
The NADCEL week witnessed medical outreaches and other cooperate social responsibility activities in various deviations, formations and Units of the Army across the country.
Addressing the gathering at the Army Command Officer’s Mess, Abuja, the special Guest of Honour, President Muhammadu Buhari, said; ”he is delighted with the increasing understanding and cooperation within the military and the notable inter-agency cooperation in the fight against terrorist in the North East.
“This jointness no doubt has led to the designation of some terrorist and criminal elements in our society, government services, and private businesses have since resumed in area hitherto controlled by these terrorists, I salute the courageous and gallant exploits of the Nigerian Army, I am also highly impressed with the conduct of Operation that flushed out the terrorist and criminals from our strong hold.”
President Buhari was represented by the Minister of Defence, retired Major General Bashir Magashi.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya in his address said ”the Army Day Celebration serves as a reminder of the sacrifices the Nigerian Army continue to make to keep Nigeria a united and an indivisible nation.”
General Yahaya said; “The Celebration presents the opportunity for the Nigerian Army to also deliberate on its future by fine tuning and redirecting its efforts to remain in perfect harmony with the constitutional responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria and its constitution… It is through our concerted efforts that the activities of the terrorists that of the secessionist and other criminal elements that threaten the very existence of this country have been greatly reduced.”
The Army Chief also said it became necessary to encourage officers and soldiers for their outstanding performance among which were a major General, two Brigadier Generals, 5 Lieutenant Generals, and two majors in the officers Category. While Soldiers category had two Warrant Officers, two Staff Sergeants, two Sergeants and a Corporal.
He said; “You would recall that in my assumption of duty, I promised to promote merit, celebrate gallantry and honour our heroes, and also stated that the Nigerian Army will continue to recognise the sacrifices of such exceptional individuals, therefore today, we will be honouring some of our officers and soldiers, who have been outstanding in the line of duty, by presenting them with the Chief of Army Staff commendation awards. I must say that they were singled out, for recognition through rigorous transparent processes,” General Yahaya explained.
In keeping to his promise, the Chief of Army Staff gave some of the awardees, the Regiment Sergeant Majors promoted vehicles at the venue of the award ceremony.
While giving the vote of Thanks, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, and Chairman Central Organising Committee of the Army Day Celebration, Major General Bamidele Omozoje, said the presence of the other service Chiefs underscores the synergy that drives the joint military activities and operations.
Also present at the occasion were; Senate President represented by the Chairman Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Wamako, Speaker of the House of Representatives, represented by the Chairman House Committee on Defence, Babajide Benson, past Chiefs of Defence Staff, Past Chiefs of Army Staff including retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, among other dignitaries.