… Directs immediate employment of fallen heroes’ children
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained commitment to building a strong, well-equipped and motivated Nigerian military capable of defending the nation’s sovereignty and confronting internal security threats.
Governor Fubara spoke on Thursday, January 15, 2026 in Port Harcourt during the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, where he commended the President for prioritising modern military hardware and improved welfare for personnel.
He said the Tinubu administration’s focus on capacity-building and welfare had boosted morale within the armed forces and yielded visible gains in the fight against terrorism and other security challenges.
“We commend our President for equipping our armed forces with the modern weapons they need and for motivating them through significantly improved salaries and other welfare packages,” the governor said. “These efforts have translated into the visible successes recorded in the fight against Boko Haram and other associated terrorist groups.”
Fubara assured that the Rivers State Government would continue to support the Federal Government, the armed forces and other security agencies in sustaining peace and stability within the state and across the country.
Reflecting on the sacrifices of Nigerian troops, the governor noted that soldiers were deployed nationwide to confront different security challenges.
“Our armed forces are engaged in the North-East, where they are at war with Boko Haram and other Islamic insurgents and terrorists,” he said. “They have also been deployed in the North-West and North-Central to combat banditry and criminal abductions that have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of property and mass displacement.”
He added that troops were equally active in the South-East and other parts of the southern region, tackling security concerns such as organised pipeline vandalism and transnational crude oil theft in the creeks and on the high seas.
According to the governor, the history of the Nigerian military is marked by profound sacrifice.
“Many of our soldiers paid the supreme price during the First and Second World Wars, the civil war and several peacekeeping operations,” Fubara said. “Sadly, many more have died and continue to die in the Sambisa forests and other battle zones while protecting our people from terrorists and bandits.”
The governor urged Nigerians to reflect on the legacy of the armed forces and to collectively honour fallen heroes and their families.
“We celebrate our armed forces for their extraordinary sacrifice, loyalty and unwavering dedication to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria,” he said. “The freedoms we enjoy today are safeguarded by their blood and sacrifice.”
Fubara stressed that the nation owed both fallen and serving personnel a lasting debt of gratitude, noting that history would judge harshly any society that failed to honour their bravery.
“Today is not only a time to honour our fallen heroes, but also to appreciate our veterans and the Gold Star families who bear the weight of sacrifice,” he said. “They deserve our heartfelt gratitude, measurable support and constant prayers.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with military formations in Rivers State through logistical support, while also improving the welfare of members of the Nigerian Legion and their families.
As a concrete step, the governor directed the Secretary to the Rivers State Government to immediately commence employment processes for the children of legionnaires and fallen heroes in the state, in fulfilment of an earlier pledge.
In his address, the Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Legion in Rivers State, ACC Kuu Aminkipo Promise, thanked Governor Fubara for sponsoring the 2026 remembrance event and for the N100 million donation from the state government, describing the gesture as exceptional.
Earlier, at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Isaac Boro Park, Governor Fubara inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and the Nigerian Legion. The governor, alongside his deputy, the Chief Judge, service chiefs and the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council, laid wreaths in honour of fallen heroes, after which he released a pigeon to symbolise peace.
