The Nigerian Army has covered up sports for the commemoration of one hundred and sixtieth anniversary of its establishment.
At a media briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Abiodun Lagbaja, stated this yr’s birthday party higher called Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) might be hosted withinside the historic town of Ibadan.
Represented via way of means of Chief of Special Services and Programme, (Army), Major General Emeka Onumajuru, the navy leader mentioned that NADCEL gives the Nigerian Army an possibility to take stock, investigate its performances, interface with the general public and set desires for persevered expert boom.
This, he stated, will permit the Nigerian Army to higher carry out its constitutional roles and additionally compete favourably with different armies across the globe
“It may even show off the military’s operational sports in addition to its transformational strides in innovation, studies and improvement, civil-navy relations, and technological advancement,” he stated.
Going down reminiscence lane, he stated: “The Nigerian Army, as an enviable countrywide group saddled with the constitutional mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity, has advanced over a hundred and sixty years. This wealthy records of the provider dates again to 1863 while Lieutenant Glover of the Royal Navy shaped a neighborhood pressure called the Glover Hausas.
“This nearby pressure subsequently have become a part of a bigger frame installed via way of means of Lord Fredrick Lugard in 1889 because the West African Frontier Force (WAFF).
Since then, the pressure underwent numerous changes with consequent modifications in nomenclature viz the Nigerian Regiment, Queen’s Own Nigerian Regiment, and Nigerian Military Force earlier than its present day name, the Nigerian Army”, he stated.
He said that the transformation persisted thru unique stages of boom and improvement till the Nigerian Army witnessed an astronomical growth in power from 10,500 to 250,000 all ranks all through the unlucky Nigerian civil conflict”.
The strugglefare, he stated ended with the slogan “No victor, no vanquished,” reuniting the u . s . in 1970.
He, however, recalled that the Nigerian Army downsized right into a compact navy with a 4 department shape of one Division, 2 Division, three Division, and eighty two Division.
He additionally disclosed that 2 Division, one of the military’s fundamental divisions, is web website hosting this yr’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) withinside the historical metropolis of Ibadan.
NADCEL, he added, is held yearly on July 6 to commemorate the day the Nigerian civil battle broke out.
“It additionally marks the day the first actual shot of the conflict changed into fired at Garkem withinside the present- day Cross River State.
“The date is about apart through the Nigerian Army to remind us approximately our beyond and the want to deal with our troubles peacefully in preference to resorting to arms. It additionally reminds us of the slogan, ‘no victor, no vanquished’, the slogan that emphasises our solidarity in diversity, the affection we proportion in diversity, and brotherhood in diversity,” he stated.
Noting that NADCEL became first celebrated in 1978 in Lagos, the COAS, stated that this 12 months’s birthday party marks the one hundred and sixtieth yr of the Nigerian Army’s lifestyles when you consider that its formation.
Gen. Lagbaja concluded that to the week-lengthy NADCEL is an critical occasion because of its importance to countrywide safety peace, and team spirit.
He stated the subject of the NADCEL 2023 is “Sound Administration as a Panacea for Effective Military Operations”.
