The Nigerian Army on Thursday retired 18 senior officers of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport after completing 35 years of service.
The officers were honoured at a colourful pulling-out parade held in Benin City, Edo State, marking the end of their military careers. The ceremony also concluded a three-day conference organised by the corps.
The conference was themed “Optimising Supply and Transport Capabilities Towards Providing Effective Service Delivery to Nigerian Army Operations in All Missions.”
Speaking at the event, the Corps Commander of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Shagaya, said the retirees included four Major Generals and 14 Brigadier Generals who had served the country with dedication since their commissioning into the army.
Shagaya described the ceremony as a moment to celebrate the officers’ long years of commitment and sacrifice in service to the nation.
“It is a joyous moment for the Corps of Supply and Transport as current and former Corps Commanders gather to honour and celebrate these distinguished officers,” he said.
He explained that the pulling-out parade remains an important military tradition that recognises the contributions of officers who have devoted decades of their lives to the armed forces.
The corps commander also appreciated the Chief of Army Staff for acknowledging the service of the retirees by sending a representative to attend the ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the retired officers, Maj.-Gen. Olaniyi Dare said their careers spanned several decades during which they served in different operational, command and administrative capacities across the Nigerian Army.
He highlighted the crucial role played by the Corps of Supply and Transport in sustaining military operations through logistics and transportation support.
According to him, the corps ensures that troops deployed to various theatres of operation receive the necessary supplies and operational support required to carry out their duties effectively.
“We were entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that soldiers deployed across different theatres of operation were adequately sustained,” Dare said.
He added that the corps remained committed to providing reliable logistics support during training activities, internal security operations and peace support missions both within and outside the country.
Reflecting on their retirement, Dare said although the officers were leaving active service, their commitment to the Nigerian Army and its core values would remain unchanged.
“As we transition into retirement, we recognise that while we are leaving active service, our loyalty to the ideals and values of the Nigerian Army remains strong,” he said.
He added that the retirees would continue to serve as ambassadors of the corps and would be ready to share their knowledge and experience whenever needed.
Dare also described the ceremony as an opportunity to reflect on decades of service and dedication to national defence.
He paid tribute to the families of the officers, acknowledging their support and sacrifices throughout their military careers.
“Military life demands a lot from families, including long periods of separation, frequent relocations and personal sacrifices,” he said.
“Their patience, understanding and encouragement made it possible for us to perform our duties effectively.”
The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, both serving and retired, as well as families, colleagues and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the retiring officers and their contributions to the Nigerian Army.
(NAN)
Leave a Reply