PMB to preside over Nigerian Army colours presentation ceremony on Thursday
The Nigerian Army will present colours to 81 operational units in Abuja on Thursday in a ceremony to be presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this during a pre-event briefing to mark the ‘Nigerian Army Trooping and Colours Presentation 2023’.
He also stated that 53 colours will be retired while 28 new units will be presented with colours.
Recall that at the 1st Quarter COAS conference, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, had announced the establishment of new units to boost operations.
Nwachukwu added that colours are usually retired after 10 years of service, and most of the colours in the Nigerian Army have been involved in multiple operations in various geopolitical zones of the country as well as foreign countries. Such colours may have been torn or worn, hence deserving retirement and the presentation of new colours.
The Director noted that the last Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade for the Nigerian Army units was conducted in 2007. Since then, new units have been established and operationalized in line with the increasing operational commitments of the Nigerian Army, as well as provisions of extant Nigerian Army Order of Battle (ORBAT).
“A total of 81 units will therefore be participating in the parade, 53 colours will be due for retirement, while 28 colours will be presented to new Nigerian Army units,” Nwachukwu said.
He added that the event is a unique ceremony not only for the units eligible for colours presentation but also for many who are looking forward to witnessing the height of military discipline and regimentation.
The parade will no doubt win more admirers for the Nigerian Army as it will provide the Nigerian Army another opportunity to showcase its reputation for excellent and colourful parades.
“The Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer is the Commander-in-Chief of AFN President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR,” Nwachukwu said.
The event will also have in attendance members of the National and Executive Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Executive Governors of the States benefiting units, Service Chiefs, past Chief of Army Staffs, senior military officers both serving and retired, captains of industries as well as other important dignitaries.
In an effort to regulate traffic and avoid interference during the ceremony, some strategic routes leading to the venue have been diverted.
Traffic will be diverted at places such as the traffic light before Force Headquarters, traffic light by Millennium park, and traffic light close to the Ministry of Finance.
While the army regrets any inconvenience caused by the diversion, commuters are requested to use alternative routes as will be guided by military police deployed at the designated points.
