The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya says this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) will be celebrated in a low key owing to the circumstances that preceded his coming on board as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff.
General Yahaya stated this while briefing Journalist on the activities to mark the 2021 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL).
He said the demise of the late former COAS Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others who lost their lives in the an unfortunate air crash at Kaduna International Airport on 21 May 2021 is still fresh in memory
and this has significantly affected the scheduled activities for NADCEL 2021.
“The weeklong annual event lined up to commemorate NADCEL 2021 will be used to reflect on the performance of the Nigerian Army and celebrate our achievements as well as project the Nigerian Army as an important symbol of national power, unity, integration and development.
“Though low key, the celebration is worthwhile as it will create an opportunity to showcase the doggedness and unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army’s personnel in the face of daunting security challenges. We are in all fronts ranging from the counter insurgency operations in the North East where I am coming from, anti-kidnapping and banditry in the North West and North Central, secessionist agitation and other criminalities in the South East and South-South,” he explained.
Although General Yahaya admitted that there is rooms for improvement, he however stated that ”the Nigerian Army with the collective effort, cooperation and commitment of other security agencies as well as citizens, have been able to live up to its expectations.”
The Nigerian Army Day Celebration is medium to reflect on the Army’s performances in previous year so as to make effective projections for the coming year.
Some of activities lined up to mark the NADCEL 2021 Celebration include: Juma’at Prayers in all Nigerian Army formations and units on Friday 2 July 2021 to be followed by Interdenominational Church Service to be held in all Nigerian Army formations and units across the nation on Sunday 4 July 2021.
The NADCEL 2021 will enable the Nigerian Army reach out to the public through its Medical Outreach Programme on Monday 5 July 2021, during which inhabitants of some selected communities around the country will benefit from a free medical services. There will also be Humanitarian Outreach programme to be conducted by members of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) in selected areas of FCT and environs on 5 July 2021 and the NADCEL 2021 activities will culminate with a lecture and COAS Commendation Award on Tuesday 6 July 2021 at Command Officers Mess 1, Asokoro Abuja.