President Buhari To Unveil Nigerian Army’s New Regimental Colors

President Muhammadu Buhari is all set to unveil national and regimental colors for the Nigerian Army this Thursday.

"A total of 81 units will, therefore, be participating in the parade; 53 colors will be due for retirement, while 28 will be presented to new units," the army's spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu said during a media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, Punch reported.

"The event will also have in attendance members of the National and Executive Council, members of the diplomatic corps and governors of the states benefitting units," he continued. "Others are service chiefs, past Chief of Army Staff, senior military officers both serving and retired, captains of industries as well as other important dignitaries."

Regimental colors are a significant symbol of the military that helps to represent the tradition, history, and honor of a regiment. These national and regimental colors will be unveiled for the newly established and operationalized units and the retired unit of the Nigerian Army.

The spokesperson recalled that the last trooping and presentation of the Colors Parade for army units was held in 2007.

In that year, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served from 1999 to 2007, stepped down from his seat and former president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who served from 2007 to 2010, took over.

Similarly, this year President Buhari, who served since 2015, is supposed to step down in May and former governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take over the role of president.

As per Nwachukwu, many Nigerian Army colors have been used several times in various geopolitical zones of the country alongside foreign countries. Hence, this newly established unit should get new ones.

"It is against this backdrop and in line with the traditions, customs and ethics of the Nigerian Army, trooping and presentation of colors parade 2023 will be conducted to retire torn or worn out colors," he added.

He went on to explain that this event will be "a unique ceremony not only to the units eligible for colors presentation, as many are looking up to this ceremony to witness the height of military discipline and regimentation."

"No doubt the parade will win more admirers for the Nigerian Army as it will provide another opportunity to showcase its reputation for excellent and colorful parades," he said.

He went on to explain that these colors give a feeling of pride to current soldiers and retired soldiers, noting that it is a symbol of the fighting spirit of regiments.

"The association of the colors with heroic deeds of the units emblazoned on them has led to the custom of regarding the colors with veneration," he added.

Nwachukwu also advised all motorists to use alternative travel routes rather than using Eagle Square between 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday.