By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Turaki (SAN) led group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended heartfelt condolences to families of fallen Nigerian soldiers and security personnel while calling for urgent improvements in welfare packages and increased funding for the Armed Forces and intelligence community as the nation marks the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an annual national observance held every January 15 to honour and remember members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security services who died in the line of duty, particularly those who lost their lives during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) and subsequent conflicts.
The celebration officially began in 1966 as “Remembrance Day” to commemorate fallen soldiers from the civil war, but it was formally institutionalised and renamed Armed Forces Remembrance Day in 1970 after the end of the war, with January 15 chosen as the date to mark the formal surrender of Biafran forces and the cessation of hostilities.
In a statement signed by National Chairman Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) on Thursday, the main opposition party described the day as a solemn reminder of the supreme sacrifice made by service members “to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country.”
“We convey our deepest condolences to the families of members of the Armed Forces who died in active service. We acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country,” Turaki said.
The PDP urged the Federal Government to act decisively on two fronts: enhanced welfare for soldiers, police, and intelligence operatives to enable them to discharge their duties effectively, and adequate budgetary allocation to security agencies to “neutralise the agents of insecurity and restore peace and security to our country.”
“We use this opportunity to demand improved welfare packages for members of the Armed Forces and all members of the security and intelligence community. We also urge the Federal Government to adequately fund the security agencies,” Turaki urged.
The party appealed to all actors, state and non-state—to refrain from actions that could destabilise Nigeria, praying that the sacrifices of fallen heroes “may not be in vain and their labours not be forgotten.”
This comes amid ongoing national security challenges, including persistent banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, and kidnappings across regions, which have drawn repeated criticism of the Tinubu government’s handling of insecurity.
