Armed Forces Remembrance: Lagos govt. donates N50m to ex-servicemen

Lagos Government, on Monday, donated the sum of N50 million to ex-servicemen in commemoration of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the donation at the unveiling of the 2023/2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem in Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu said that the ex-servicemen needed to be supported, as they fought to ensure the peace and unity of the country.

”We usually give a monthly support, but this one (N50 million) will be a support that will not stop all the other supports that we are giving.

”We have just been decorated, and while we are doing that with all the service chiefs with all sense of responsibility, we all feel a sense of purpose and commitments.

”We all feel a sense of patriotism to be able to, on yearly basis, remember all of the great men, our fallen heroes, that, at one time or the other, served our country meritoriously.

”Some had to pay the supreme prize, while some, having also served and left service but in one form or the other, still continue to contribute in, no little way, to the success of our country,” he said.

The governor said that the state government would not relent in supporting the wives of the fallen heroes.

”To our widows that are here, we want to continue to encourage you; we want to continue to ensure and assure you of government’s support.

”I remember last year, we did make commitments that our Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry must reach out to you from time to time; I want to believe that they do that,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu directed the commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation to ensure that the ministry engaged the widows in the skill acquisition programmes of the state government.

He assured that his administration would ensure that the social intervention agencies carried the Nigerian Legion along in the different interventions of the government.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Olanrewaju Kayode, said that the unveiling of the emblem by the Nigeria Legion marked the commencement of the 2024 armed forces remembrance day.

Kayode said that the activities would be climaxed with the armed forces remembrance day on Jan. 15, 2024, with the wreath laying at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa, Lagos.

Also speaking, Chairman of the legion in the state, Mr Akeem Wolimoh, said that the gesture being enjoyed by the legion in the state was unprecedented.

Wolimoh thanked Sanwo-Olu, even as he implored him to continue to continue his support to the legion.

”I want us to use this moment to appreciate the sacrifices of the fallen heroes and military veterans and plead with Mr Governor to continue the Nigerian Legion in Lagos State.

”No doubt, we need funds to enable us to continue in our efforts to attend to our obligations in order for us to function effectively in fostering comradeship among ex-servicemen.

”We need funds for provision of medical support, housing and other daily needs of the aged, the weak and the needy military veterans, including those of the dependants (widows and orphans) of the fallen heroes,” he said.

Wolimoh also solicited for support from corporate organisations, the elites in the society and the general public.