The Nigerian Army is set to present new colours to 81 units of the service in a historic Trooping and Presentation of Colors parade scheduled to hold Thursday in Abuja.
It said the National and Regimental Colours carried by units during parades and ceremonial activities are an important source of identity and pride, not only for the units involved but for the Nigerian Army as well as the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu stated this while briefing Journalists ahead of the Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade.
General Nwachukwu said “The occasion is used to present the National and Regimental Colours to Nigerian Army newly established and operationalised units. The event is also in line with the increasing operational commitments of the Army as well as the provisions of the extant Nigerian Army Order of Battle.”
He pointed out that the event which dates back to ancient history has served as an inspiration for heroic acts of self-sacrifice, a symbol of the fighting spirit of a regiment, battle honours and badges granted to the regiment in commemoration of the gallant deeds performed by its members.
The Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade to retire torn or worn out Colours which was last conducted in 2007, is expected to provide the Nigerian Army with n opportunity to showcase its reputation for excellence and Colourful Parades with the Reviewing Officer and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari as the Special Guest of Honour.
According to General Nwachukwu, a total of 81 units will be participating in the Parade, 53 Colours will be due for retirement, while 28 Colours be presented to new Nigerian Army units.
He said; “the last Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade for the Nigerian Army units was conducted in 2007. Since then, new units have been established and operationalized in line with the increasing operational commitments of the NA as well as provisions of the extant NA Order of Battle (ORBAT).
“Colours are usually retired after 10 years of service. Most of the Colours in the NA have been involved in multiple operations in various geopolitical zones of the Country as well as foreign countries, hence deserving retirement and the presentation of new Colours.”
“The event is a unique ceremony not only to the units eligible for Colours presentation, as many are looking up to this ceremony to witness the height of military discipline and registration,” General Nwachukwu said.
Ahead of the historic event scheduled to hold on 27 April 2023 at Eagle Square Abuja, the Nigerian Army used the opportunity to inform the public that some strategic routes leading to the venue have been diverted.
These include the traffic light before Force Headquarters, traffic light by Milinium park and traffic light close to ministry of Finance. It also expressed regrets over all the inconveniences the diversion may cause to the general public.
