By Miriam Humbe
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede has urged all Nigerians to continue to support the troops who are working tirelessly to address the security challenges confronting the nation.
The Chief of Defence Staff said this in his goodwill message to the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the celebration of the Eid-El-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The Defence Chief said that the task and responsibility of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria was enormous, requiring immense sacrifice.
He encouraged the Muslim faithful to continue to uphold the noble virtues imbibed during the Ramadan, particularly the fear of God, honesty, tolerance, compassion, peace and mutual support.
Here’s a full text of the CDS’ message:
It is with profound gratitude to the Almighty God that I felicitate with the officers, soldiers, ratings, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) on the joyous occasion of the 2026 Eid El-Fitr celebration, marking the successful completion of the sacred month of Ramadan.
This auspicious occasion presents us with the opportunity to reflect on the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and to express our gratitude to the Almighty for granting us the blessing of witnessing the end of this holy period.
The holy month of Ramadan is a time devoted to prayer, sacrifice, charity and self-discipline.
As we celebrate this solemn moment with your families and loved ones, I encourage all to continue to uphold the noble virtues imbibed during the Ramadan, particularly the fear of God, honesty, tolerance, compassion, peace and mutual support.
These values remain essential not only for personal growth but also for strengthening the bonds of unity within our Armed Forces and across our nation.
The AFN remains conscious of the enormous responsibility of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our dear nation, Nigeria which requires immense sacrifice.
In defending our great country, some of our gallant heroes have paid the supreme price while others continue to bear the burden of injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Their courage and selflessness will never be forgotten and we remain deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment.
At this critical stage of our national development, the security and stability of Nigeria remain essential to sustaining our democratic institutions and enabling our citizens to pursue their aspirations in peace and prosperity.
Accordingly, I urge all our troops deployed across the various theatres of operations to remain disciplined, resilient, patriotic, and courageous in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
The evolving security environment requires that we consolidate the joint operations across the various geopolitical zones, enhance our operational synergy, and maintain a professional posture capable of mitigating emerging threats to our nation’s sovereignty.
I also wish to assure our personnel that their welfare and well-being remain a priority.
Efforts will continue to be made to improve administrative support, strengthen operational capabilities, and create the conditions necessary for our personnel to perform their duties effectively while upholding the highest standards of professionalism.
On this special occasion, I call on all Nigerians to continue to support our troops as we work tirelessly to address the security challenges confronting our nation.
The defence of our country is a collective responsibility that requires the cooperation of government institutions, communities, and citizens working together thus espousing the whole-of-government approach.
Through our shared resolve and cooperation, we will continue to strengthen the security of our nation and uphold the enduring values of our flourishing democracy.
I most respectfully express our profound appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his steadfast support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
This commitment is evident in the sustained enhancement of defence capabilities, operational resources and personnel welfare, which collectively strengthen the Armed Forces’ capacity to safeguard national security and support stability across the nation.
Once again, I wish all seeofficers, soldiers, ratings, airmen, airwomen, civilian staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and indeed all Nigerians, a peaceful and joyous Eid El-Fitr celebration.
Eid Mubarak!!!
God bless the Armed Forces of Nigeria!!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!!
General OO OLUYEDE
Chief of Defence Staff,
March 2026
