The Nigerian Army, on Tuesday, announced plans to celebrate 160 years of existence and would showcase its capabilities in operations, research, and development since 1863.
According to the Army spokesman,\xa0 Onyema Nwachukwu, the history of Nigerian Army dates to 1863 when Lt Glover of the Royal Navy selected 18 indigenes from the northern part of the country and organised them into a local force, known as the ‘Glover Constabulary’.
In 1865, the constabulary became a regular force and performed both police and military duties for the colonial government.
The Chief of Army Staff , Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, while speaking with journalist on Tuesday in Abuja, said the Nigerian army had evolved in all ramifications in the last 160 years of its existence.
Lagbaja, who was represented by the Chief of Special Services and Programmes (Army), Maj. Gen. Emeka Onumajuru,\xa0 said the Nigerian army, as an enviable national institution saddled with the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity, had a rich history of service dating back to 1863.
Lagbaja also said the 2023 NADCEL slated to hold in Ibadan on July 6, was to commemorate the day the Nigerian Civil War broke out.
According to him, it also marks the day the very first shot of the war was fired at Garkem in the present-day Cross River State.
He said the date was set aside to remind them about the past and the need to address problems peacefully rather than resorting to arms.
He said,\xa0 “It offers the Nigerian Army an opportunity to take stock, assess its performances, interface with the public, and set goals for continued professional growth.
“This will enable it to better perform its constitutional roles and also compete favourably with other armies around the globe.
“This year’s celebration is to celebrate the Nigerian army’s achievements.
“It will also showcase the army’s operational activities as well as its transformational strides in innovation, research and development, civil-military relations, and technological advancement.
“The celebration is also aimed at projecting the Army as an instrument of national unity and development as well as highlighting its capabilities,” he said.