The Federal Government has promised to ensure better days for military personnel, veterans and their families.
The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen at the Wreath Laying Ceremony to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) on Monday in Abuja.
Badaru said it was in recognition of the magnitude of the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces that Jan. 15 was set aside to remember those who paid the supreme price for the unity of Nigeria.
He said it was also a celebration and recognition of the efforts been made by the Armed Forces to unite the country and ensure a peaceful and prosperous nation.
“First, we have to thank the president for all the support and the love he showed for the fallen heroes and their families.
“He has been very supportive and we will try as much as possible to take care of them in every means and ways.
“They should keep working very hard and save us of this menace of security challenges in the country, and I think they are doing wonderfully well now.
“We will do our best and we have all the support from Mr President to support the family of the fallen heroes in every way and manner possible,’’ the minister said.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said that celebrating the fallen heroes would encourage those still serving to know that their sacrifices and efforts would not be in vain.
Fagbemi said the administration had shown commitment to the welfare and well-being of serving and retired personnel, as well as that of the families of the fallen heroes.
“So far it has been in terms of ensuring that they get the needed support from government.
“Recently, you remember that the president released a huge sum of money to take care of the servicemen, the fallen heroes, which goes to show that the present administration remembers them.
“Like I said, no amount of effort is too much to make sure we continue to remember these fallen heroes, the veterans and those who are still serving,” he said.
On his part, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the men and women of the Armed Forces for the sacrifices they had continued to make to keep the nation safe.
Akpabio said the remembrance day was to signify to the members of the Armed Forces and their families that they were not alone and that the entire nation mourned with them.
“And we continue to pray for God Almighty to console them and provide for the children and the siblings that they have left behind.
“And again, the presence of all of us, it is also a major significant that yes indeed, the government of the day would never let them mourn alone,
“We will do everything possible to ensure that their welfare is taken care of and that this event reduces the calamities that we are seeing in our country,’’ he said.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also assured National Assembly’s support for the veterans and their families.
“They should know that what they are doing is a noble cause, and we will be with them all the way, we’ll support them all the way and will ensure that they are not left alone. That is a commitment from the National Assembly.
“As you have heard from our senate president, we will do everything humanly possible to improve the welfare of the falling heroes, their families, and the active men and women in the field,’’ Abbas added. (NAN)
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