🇳🇬 Nigerian Armed Forces Honor 542 Senior Officers as They Retire After 35 Years of Service
In a grand and emotional ceremony held on Thursday, 542 senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces after 35 years of distinguished service to the nation.
The retirement ceremony took place at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Oshodi, Lagos, celebrating decades of sacrifice, dedication, and patriotism.
🔰 Breakdown of Retirees:
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Nigerian Army – 362 personnel
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Nigerian Navy – 134 personnel
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Nigerian Air Force – 46 personnel
🎖️ “Your Service Embodies Courage and Discipline” – Military Chiefs Commend Retirees
Speaking at the event, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Major General Aligbe Obhiozele (TRADOC), commended the retirees for their unwavering commitment to national defense.
“Today we celebrate your courage, discipline, and selfless service to our great nation,” Obhiozele said. “Your 35-year journey embodies the finest traditions of resilience and patriotism. As you transition to civilian life, continue to be pillars in your communities.”
He also cautioned them against financial mismanagement and neglect of their health, emphasizing that society still looks to them as role models even in retirement.
🛠️ Skills for Civilian Life: Over 53,000 Trained by NAFRC
NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, highlighted the center’s continued efforts to equip retiring personnel with valuable life skills.
“Since inception, this center has trained over 53,000 personnel,” Mamman stated.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for key upgrades that have transformed the facility, including:
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Bigger starter packs for retirees
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Digitization of records
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Enhanced e-learning platforms
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Modernized workshop equipment
“These interventions have significantly boosted our capacity to prepare service members for life after the military,” Mamman noted.
🌱 New Beginnings: Hopeful Stories from the Retirees
Retiring officers received discharge certificates after undergoing months of vocational training in trades like farming, fashion, and craftsmanship. Families in attendance cheered, some wiping away tears during the emotional ceremony.
One of the retirees, Sergeant Musa Bello, shared:
“I was trained in farming, and I plan to invest my gratuity in it. I’m proud of my service and excited for what lies ahead.”
🫡 Ceremony Ends with Symbolic Flag Lowering
The event concluded with the traditional lowering of military flags, symbolizing the end of an era for these veterans. As the flags came down, so did a chapter of service—making way for a new journey filled with opportunity, honor, and continued service to society in new ways.
📌 Final Word
The retirement of these 542 senior officers is not just an end—it’s a new beginning for individuals who have given their best to Nigeria. As they rejoin civilian life, their discipline, training, and patriotism will continue to shape the communities they return to.