Despite the numerous challenges, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja says the Nigerian Army has significantly contributed to national development in several areas over the past 161 years.
Lagbaja stated this yesterday when he briefed newsmen on the forthcoming 2024 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Ibrahim, the COAS said the army had made progress in security, education, engineering, health, science, sports, and other spheres over the years.
According to him, the challenges faced by the Nigerian Army over the past 161 years notwithstanding, it has persevered and grown to be the 39th-ranked Army of 145 armies assessed in the Global Firepower Index of 2024.
Lagbaja said, “It is due to these accomplishments we always seize the opportunity presented by the period culminating into July 6 to celebrate and give glory to Almighty God.”
The COAS said the 2024 NADCEL was a celebration of one of the greatest armies in the world. Its eventful history spanned 161 years, dating back to 1863 when Lt. Glover of the Royal Navy organised 18 indigenes of Northern Nigeria into a local force known as the “Glover Hausas.”
He said the army had played crucial roles in the defence of the country and the maintenance of peace and security, adding that the celebration provided an opportunity to celebrate the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve in the army.
“It is expedient to state that as the Nigerian Army evolved, it continually built capacity and modernised to meet its responsibilities effectively.
“The capabilities and doggedness of the Nigerian Army ensured its troops participated in the First and Second World War and numerous peacekeeping and peace support operations in different parts of the world.
“The Nigerian Army also took an active part in the unfortunate Nigerian Civil War, which ended with the slogan “No victor, no vanquish”; reuniting the country in 1970.
“Its heroic exploits in peacekeeping, especially in the last two decades, are well acknowledged globally and particularly by the United Nations (UN).
“The effectiveness of the Nigerian Army in peacekeeping has resulted in several requests for its deployment in various troubled countries, and despite our security challenges, Nigeria submits to calls for increased participation of her troops in international peace efforts,” he said.