Armed Forces Remembrance Day: The Labour of Our Heroes Past

 

By Oluchi Omai

Every 15 January, Nigeria pauses to honour the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who have defended the nation. Armed Forces Remembrance Day is not just a ceremonial event—it is a solemn reflection on the price paid for our freedom and security. It is a day to remember the fallen, celebrate the living, and confront the challenges that continue to test our nation.

From the battlefields of the Second World War and the scars of the Nigerian Civil War to today’s operations against insurgency and criminal networks, the labour of our heroes past continues to shape Nigeria’s present.

Honouring Sacrifice Beyond Ceremony

While the bugle call of the Last Post and wreath-laying ceremonies dominate the day, the true essence of remembrance lies deeper. It lies in the countless soldiers, sailors, airmen, and women who left families, careers, and comfort to defend an idea called Nigeria, often without the certainty of return.

For veterans, widows, and children of fallen heroes, remembrance is personal: a photograph on a wall, a medal in a wooden box, or a pension that may be delayed. Armed Forces Remembrance Day gives a national voice to these sacrifices, affirming that their service will not be forgotten.

Nigeria’s Security Landscape: A Context for Remembrance

This year’s commemoration comes amid ongoing security challenges. Insurgency in the North-East persists, while banditry and kidnappings threaten the North-West and North-Central regions. Separatist tensions, militancy in the Niger Delta, and organised crime continue to stretch the Armed Forces.

Personnel operate in difficult terrain, facing evolving threats and enormous psychological pressure. Many of the heroes being remembered today fell in recent years, a stark reminder that the cost of security is ongoing and real.

From Ritual to Responsibility

Recent initiatives have sought to deepen the meaning of the day. The Federal Government and National Assembly pledged over ₦320 million to support the Nigerian Legion, veterans’ welfare programmes, and families of the fallen. Calls for improved training, equipment, and troop welfare signal a shift from mere ceremony to concrete commitment.

But true remembrance must go further. It should translate into:

• Consistent welfare and pensions for veterans and families of the fallen

• Psychosocial support for troops coping with trauma

• Public respect and civic engagement, particularly among younger Nigerians

• Policy measures addressing the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, inequality, and governance gaps

When remembrance stops at the parade ground, its impact is limited. When it shapes policies and public action, it becomes a powerful force for change.

The Labour That Built Our Peace

The labour of our heroes past includes sleepless nights in hostile forests, months away from loved ones, and life-altering decisions made under fire. It includes unnamed heroes whose graves are marked only by memory, and living veterans whose quiet dignity rarely makes headlines.

As Nigeria bows its head in remembrance, it must also lift its gaze. Honour is not just about looking back; it is about ensuring that today’s servicemen and women are better protected, and that tomorrow sees fewer names added to the roll of the fallen.

A Shared National Duty

Armed Forces Remembrance Day asks a simple but demanding question: What are we doing with the peace others died to secure?

The answer lies in unity, justice, and a commitment to peace. Only then can the labour of our heroes past endure as a legacy, and only then can Nigeria truly say that their sacrifice was not in vain.