A total of 542 senior Non-Commissioned Officers officially retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces on Thursday after completing 35 years of dedicated service.
The retirement ceremony took place at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Oshodi, Lagos.
The retirees comprised 362 personnel from the Nigerian Army, 134 from the Navy, and 46 from the Air Force.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede—represented by Major General Aligbe Obhiozele of TRADOC—commended the retirees for their unwavering commitment to national service.
“Today we celebrate your courage, discipline and selfless service to our great nation. Your 35-year journey embodies the finest military traditions of resilience and patriotism,” Obhiozele said.
He encouraged the retired officers to carry forward the values of the military into civilian life and serve as role models in their communities.
“As you transition to civilian life, we urge you to uphold these values and become pillars in your communities.”
Obhiozele also cautioned them against financial mismanagement and neglecting their health, stressing that the public still expects them to maintain the high level of discipline they demonstrated while in service.
NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, revealed that the centre has trained over 53,000 personnel since its inception. He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for recent reforms aimed at improving the retirement process.
“These interventions have significantly enhanced our capacity to prepare servicemen for civilian life,” Mamman said, referring to newly introduced improvements such as larger starter packs, digitisation of personnel records, e-learning enhancements, and updated workshop tools.
During the event, retirees received discharge certificates, having completed vocational training in various skills. Many described the ceremony as emotional yet optimistic.
Sergeant Musa Bello shared his experience:
“The training has prepared me well for civil life. I was trained in farming. I hope to invest my gratuity in it. I am proud of my service years.”
The ceremony concluded with the traditional lowering of the military flags, symbolizing the formal end of their active duty.