Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for sustained improvements in the welfare of military veterans and their families, while reaffirming the need for a decisive end to insurgency and other security threats across Nigeria.
The Governor made the appeal on Thursday in Port Harcourt at the grand finale of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, urging Nigerians to honour fallen heroes by building a just, equitable and united society, rather than limiting their sacrifices to annual ceremonial observances.
Governor Fubara reflected on the immense price paid for Nigeria’s peace, recalling that from the First World War to contemporary military operations in areas such as the Sambisa Forest, Nigerian soldiers have consistently put their lives on the line to defend the nation’s sovereignty. He noted the heavy human cost of these efforts, citing the loss of over a million lives during the Nigerian Civil War and the continued casualties recorded in ongoing operations nationwide.
He acknowledged persistent security challenges in various geopolitical zones and commended troops confronting Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East, banditry in the North-Central region and pipeline vandalism in the South-South.
According to the Governor, the unity, peace and freedoms Nigerians enjoy today are products of the courage, loyalty and sacrifice of the armed forces.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising military capacity through the provision of modern equipment and improved welfare packages, which he said have translated into measurable gains against insurgency and terrorism.
Governor Fubara pledged continued support for the military and the Nigerian Legion, assuring that his administration would prioritise the welfare of families of fallen heroes, including their spouses, children and parents.
