Major General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, has congratulated troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and their families on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir this year.
In a goodwill message issued on his behalf by the acting director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, the CDS praised the troops for their “selfless sacrifice, commitment, doggedness, and determination towards dislodging existential threats to the unity, security, stability, and peace of the country.”
Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, praised the troops for their dedication and sacrifice in combating emerging security challenges across the country.
Musa said;
The symbolic values and virtues of unflinching faith and total sacrifice which the Eid-el-Kabir festival exemplifies also hold true for the supreme sacrifices which our defiant and courageous soldiers continue to make in the face of challenges to the peace, unity and sovereignty of the nation.
He assured the troops of his support as they carried out their constitutional duties across the country.
General Musa thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his military support and commitment to repositioning the economy and security sector reforms.
He pledged the armed forces’ undivided loyalty to the new administration.
The CDS also praised Nigerians for their military support and urged them to “show more faith in the zeal and ability of our troops to effectively combat threats to our dear nation’s security and stability.”
Your trust and confidence in our armed forces as collective partners and stakeholders in securing our nation cannot be overemphasised. The security and stability of our nation is the sacred and collective responsibility of all Nigerians, he said.
In a message signed by Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, director of Army Public Relations, to troops and their families to commemorate Eid-el-Kabir 2023, the army chief thanked God for protection and guidance.
According to him, the Eid-el-Kabir festival symbolizes the virtues of sacrifice and submission to the will of the Almighty God, as exemplified by Prophet Abraham and emulated by Prophet Muhammed.
The COAS stated that the season brings to mind the supreme sacrifice that officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army make on a daily basis to ensure the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at all times.
According to Gen Lagbaja, the celebration also embodies the Nigerian Army’s core values of courage, selfless service, discipline, integrity, respect for others, and loyalty.
He urged the troops to use the spirituality of the occasion to pray for the Nigerian Army as it works to combat security challenges across the country.
The Army chief, who recently assumed office as the 23rd COAS, said his appointment was a call to engender change and make a difference towards the fulfillment of the constitutional mandate of the army, in line with his command philosophy:
To transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.
The COAS lauded the troops deployed in ongoing operations within and outside the shores of the country for their sacrifice.
In the course of my career, I witnessed in different capacities, your efforts and sacrifices, therefore, I have no doubt about the zeal and commitment of our troops in ensuring the success of the Nigerian Army in combating the complex, multifaceted, and unpredictable security threats bedeviling our country, alongside our sister services, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies, he stated.
Gen Lagbaja said he would provide the needed leadership and consolidate on prior achievements of the army in ensuring that the current security distractions confronting the nation are decimated.
He urged the troops to remain resolute, undaunted, disciplined, and patriotic in combating the adversaries of the country.
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