As part of activities commemorating the year 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, the ministry of Defence has put modalities in place to cement and further improve the relationship between the Nigerian Legion and the National Personal Asset Acquisition scheme.
Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Sahili Magashi who made the disclosure at the ministerial press briefing to kickstart activities for the Remembrance Day celebration, noted that the Ministry of Defence has also forwarded a bill for the review of the Nigerian Legion Act to a Veterans Federation of Nigeria Act.
While urging the 9th National Assembly to assist in the expeditious passage of the Bill, the minister pointed out that the bill has provision for institutionalizing the provision for welfare needs of the Veterans in line with International best practices.
On the collaboration between Nigerian Legion and National Personal Asset Acquisition Scheme, the minister said, the scheme which started in 2016, is a private sector driven National Personal Asset Acquisition Scheme was endorsed to afford the Legionnaires (veterans) the ability to purchase both household and agricultural commodities at affordable, discounted prices within a flexible and structured repayment plan across the country.
“I am happy to announce that the programme has taken off with the distribution at Jos in July 2018 of 400 motorcycles to the Legionnaires and food items to widows of fallen heroes. The gesture was replicated with the distribution of 2,000 motorcycles and 10,000 bags of rice in Abuja in October 2018.
“The collaboration has programmes in housing, agriculture, provision of free medical services, skill acquisition, transportation, education and humanitarian services. All these are in a bid to improve upon the welfare and living conditions of our veterans and their families”.
He continued, “The Armed Forces Remembrance Day or Veterans Day as it is called in some countries is a very important event celebrated globally. It is observed in commemoration of the end of the Second World War which happened at the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month in 1945.
“Members of the Armed Forces have paid the supreme sacrifice and sustained varying degrees of injuries in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East as well as tackling other internal security problems in the North West and other parts of the country.
“In the North East in particular, their sacrifices have led to the return of normalcy and relative peace in the North East with the return of civil institutions and most of the Internally Displaced Persons to their ancestral homes.
“The Federal and State Governments are also involved in rebuilding public institutions and communities affected by the long-drawn war on insurgency.
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“Thankfully, some corporate organizations whose contribution we sincerely appreciate have lent their support in concrete terms to the rebuilding/resettlement process of the war-affected citizens.
“We wish to appreciate and applaud these organizations and call on other well-meaning corporate bodies and citizens to also contribute their quota to ease the burden of our affected compatriots.
“Annually, the country through the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration recognizes and appreciates the sacrifices of our fallen heroes, veterans and the Armed Forces.
“It is the desire of Government that this act of remembrance be implanted in the hearts of all Nigerians so that we can on daily basis act in ways that show our appreciation.
“We owe it a duty to give consideration to the plight of the widows and orphans of the fallen heroes. We appreciate the works of some Non-Governmental Organizations that have catered for these categories of citizens. It is expected that more of such organizations will rise to the challenge of addressing the needs of these special Nigerians.
“The efforts of the services at providing scholarship for the eligible children of their personnel who died in active service up to tertiary level can be augmented by corporate organizations operating in Nigeria to capture dependents outside the official coverage net. This can be considered as a worthy Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
Activities marking the Celebration will include:
a. Emblem Launch by Mr President. The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, will launch the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem on Wednesday 16 October 2019. The event will take place at the Council Chambers, State House, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
b. The Nigerian Legion Humanitarian Day. This is scheduled to hold on Friday 18 October 2019 at the Legion House, Area 3 Garki Abuja and Legion offices in all States of the Federation. The event will involve community service by the veterans as well as empowerment of widows and orphans of fallen heroes.
c. Religious Services. The Jumma’at Service will hold on Friday 10 January 2020 at the National Mosque. This will be followed by Interdenominational Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on Sunday 12 January 2020. These events will take place simultaneously in all the States of the Federation. All Nigerians and visitors are invited to attend and pray for the departed, injured veterans and their families.
d. Wreath Laying Ceremony. The peak of the Celebration will be the laying of wreath by Mr President and other dignitaries at the National Cenotaph Abuja on Wednesday 15 January 2020. This is carried out simultaneously by Governors in their respective States.
Picture shows Minister of Defence, Basgir Magashi, Perm Sec MOD, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, CDS, General AG Olonisakin, COAS, Lt. Gen TY Buratai, CNS Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chairman Nigerian Legion and others at the briefing.
END
