President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday led other top government officials and Service chiefs to lay wreaths in honour of soldiers, who died during national service and international assignments.
The ceremony was to mark the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
January 15th, every year, is dedicated to remembering and appreciating surviving military men, who have retired from active service.
It was the fourth time President Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was laying the wreath in a democratic setting.
Buhari was clad in white โBabanrigaโ, just like Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
The ceremony at the National Arcade in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja came after over a month that the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and Appeal Fund was launched by the President.
The brief ceremony started around 11a.m. when Buhari arrived at the National Arcade and inspected the guard of honour.
Christian and Muslim prayers were offered for the departed souls and the nation.
One-minute silence was observed in honour of the departed souls and there was gun salute during the wreath-laying ceremony.
Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen and Minister of Defence Dan Ali Mansur were among top government officials who also laid wreaths.
Others that laid wreaths include Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mohammed Bello, Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai and other service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris (performing his last official role).
Buhari also signed the register and led the dignitaries to release white pigeons at the no-speech-making ceremony.
Top government officials, including cabinet members, attended the event.
