By Miriam Humbe
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed his commitment to improving the welfare of military veterans in appreciation of their exemplary service and sacrifices to the nation.
Major General Samaila Uba, the Director Defence Information disclosed this in a statement signed on Friday.
General Oluyede gave the assurance on Friday, 13 November 2026, during an engagement meeting and interactive session with military veterans from the South-South Geopolitical Zone, held at Cathelea Convention and Suites, Benin City, Edo State.
The CDS explained that the engagement was part of his initiative to interact directly with retired military personnel on issues bordering on their welfare, administration and other post-service concerns.
He described the forum as a veritable platform for enhanced synergy and constructive interaction, enabling the Armed Forces to draw from the wealth of experience and professional expertise of retired personnel in making informed decisions on veterans’ administration and welfare.
General Oluyede noted that the welfare of veterans and their families deserves continued improvement, and urged them to remain good ambassadors of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in their various communities.
He also briefed the veterans on ongoing efforts to acquire modern platforms and force enablers, some of which have already started arriving in the country and are expected to impact positively on military operations in Nigeria.
On welfare initiatives, the CDS disclosed plans for low-interest loans from the Bank of Industry to support veterans’ post-service businesses.
He also highlighted improvements in medical care, including the expansion of the military hospital in Abuja with a percentage reserved for veterans, and ongoing efforts to establish dedicated medical facilities in each geopolitical zone to cater to veterans’ medical needs.
The interactive session afforded the veterans the opportunity to raise concerns on gratuity computation, pension-related matters and access to medical care among others, all of which were promptly addressed by the CDS.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Association (RANAO), Colonel Tony Ogbomo (Rtd), expressed appreciation to the CDS for his sustained commitment to the welfare of military veterans and their families.
He particularly commended the CDS for the proposed establishment of at least one dedicated military hospital for veterans in each geopolitical zone, as well as the planned introduction of a low-interest loan scheme to support veterans in establishing and expanding post-service businesses.
The sustained engagement underscores the commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff to strengthening veterans’ welfare and harnessing the wealth of experience of retired military personnel towards enhancing national defence and security.
Recall that the CDS held similar engagements with veterans from the South-West and North-Central Geopolitical Zones recently. The engagements will continue across the country.
