Nigerian Army will today present national colours to 81 operational units in Abuja at a ceremony to be presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The director, Army Public Relations Brig- Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu who disclosed this during a pre-event briefing to mark the ‘Nigerian Army trooping and Colours presentation 2023’ said 53 colours will be retired while 28 new units will be presented with colours.
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The Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya had at the 1st quarter COAS conference announced the establishment of new units to boost operations.
He said the colours are usually retired after 10 years of service, adding that most of the colours in the NA have been involved in multiple operations in various geopolitical zones of the country as well as foreign countries.
He said 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 NA units was conducted in 2007.
He said since then, new units had been established and operationalized in line with the increasing operational commitments of the NA as well as provisions of extant NA Order of Battle (ORBAT).
“It is against this backdrop and in line with the traditions, customs and ethics of the NA, trooping and presentation of colours parade 2023 will be conducted to retire torn or worn out colours, as well as to present the national and regimental colours to the newly established and operationalised units in line with the increasing operational commitments of the Nigerian Army as well as the provisions of the extant Nigerian Army 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”.
He said the event is a unique ceremony not only to the units eligible for colours presentation, as many are looking up to this ceremony to witness the height of military discipline and regimentation.
Nwachukwu said the parade will no doubt win more admirers for the NA 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 the armed forces, President Muhammadu Buhari.
The event will also have in attendance members of the national and executive councils, members of the diplomatic corps, governors of the states benefitting units, service chiefs, past chief of army staffs, senior military officers both serving and retired, captains of industries as well as other important dignitaries.
He said in an effort to regulate traffic and avoid interference during the ceremony, some strategic routes leading to the venue have been diverted.
He said traffic will be diverted at places such as ” traffic light before Force Headquarters, traffic light by Millennium Park and traffic light close to the Ministry of Finance. While we regret all the inconveniences the diversion may cause to road users, commuters are requested to use alternative routes as will be guided by military police deployed at the designated points.”
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