The Federal Government of Nigeria has conferred prestigious national honours on several military personnel, including the posthumous recognition of Brigadier General Musa Uba, for their exceptional gallantry and sacrifice in the line of duty.
The awards were presented during the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day (AFCRD) Gala and Award Night, held on Tuesday evening at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. The ceremony formed a central part of the week-long activities themed "Valour, Sacrifice, and Unity: Honouring Our Heroes", aimed at recognising both the fallen and those currently safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.
Brigadier General Musa Uba was posthumously awarded the Gallantry Award for his "exceptional courage" and leadership. Uba, who served as the commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, was killed in November 2025 during a Boko Haram/ISWAP ambush along the Damboa-Biu road in Borno State while leading his troops from the front to transport vital military equipment.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, was also a prominent recipient, receiving the Service and Sacrifice Award. The government cited his "selfless service and decisive leadership" in overseeing counter-insurgency and internal security operations across various theatres in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the military emphasised that the awards recognised "gallantry, sacrifice, innovation, exemplary leadership, and post-service contributions to national development."
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the event by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged the Armed Forces to remain a symbol of national unity. He described the military as the "guardians of Nigeria's democracy" and reaffirmed his administration's commitment to improving the welfare of personnel.
"Remembrance is a permanent national duty and not merely a ceremonial exercise," the President’s representative stated. He added that the names of the fallen are "etched not only on monuments but in the hearts of Nigerians," promising that the government would match their sacrifices with concrete support in equipment and training.
Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, remarked that the awards represent stories of "quiet sacrifice and unwavering commitment to duty," many of which occurred away from the public eye. He paid specific tribute to the families of the fallen, acknowledging the "silent burden of sacrifice" borne by spouses and children.
Other posthumous awards included the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Excellence Award given to the late Colonel B. Umaru and the Fallen Heroes Award presented to the late Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Alari for his pivotal roles in North-East operations.
The ceremony also recognised retired officers, with former COAS Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (Rtd) receiving the Legacy Award for his past reforms and expansion of the Army's operational capacity. Major General Abdulsalami Enesi Abubakar, the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, was also among those decorated for operational leadership.
The 2026 remembrance activities will culminate on Thursday, January 15, with the National Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the National Arcade in Abuja, where the President and service chiefs will pay their final respects to the nation's departed icons.
