A total of 542 senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) from the Nigerian Armed Forces retired on Thursday after dedicating 35 years of service to the nation.
The retirement ceremony, held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, included 362 soldiers from the Nigerian Army, 134 from the Navy, and 46 from the Air Force.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Major General Aligbe Obhiozele, praised the retirees for their courage, discipline, and selfless service.
Obhiozele urged the retirees to uphold the values they displayed during their service and become pillars in their communities. He also cautioned them against financial mismanagement and neglect of their health.
The Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving improvements to the centre, including bigger starter packs for retirees, digitization of records, and vocational training.
These initiatives have enhanced the centre’s capacity to prepare servicemen for civilian life.
The retirees, who received discharge certificates, expressed gratitude for the training they received, which has prepared them for their transition to civilian life.
Sergeant Musa Bello, one of the retirees, said he was trained in farming and plans to invest his gratuity in the venture.
The ceremony ended with the traditional lowering of flags, marking the formal exit of the retirees from military service.