President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State Yakubu Gowon and Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, were among dignitaries who attended the grand finale of the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The week-long event, themed “Protecting the Nation and Serving the People: A Way Forward for the NA”, ended with a series of activities showcasing the capabilities and operational readiness of the Nigerian Army.
President Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour, was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, while Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara served as co-host.
The event was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, other senior military officers, government officials, security stakeholders and defence representatives from 16 African countries.
Former military leaders, including former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, also attended the gala night held on Sunday.
The grand finale featured a series of military displays, including tactical drills, aerial demonstrations, rescue exercises and combat presentations, which drew applause from spectators.
A brief disruption occurred during the event when some parachutists scheduled to participate in the display went missing for about two hours before later landing at Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, the venue of the celebration.
Two parachutists and the personnel operating the system landed outside the venue, causing temporary concern among attendees. Some military officials attributed the incident to weather conditions.
The ceremony also featured performances by female military commanders, horse-riding displays, demonstrations of military capabilities and exhibitions highlighting the Army’s operational preparedness.
Other activities included a helicopter rescue exercise, a musical combat and training display led by the Director of Army Training, as well as ground movement exercises demonstrating the agility and coordination of male and female soldiers.
The Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police also staged a display featuring military-trained working dogs, while personnel from the Infantry Amphibious Training School demonstrated combat capabilities.
Additional presentations were made by various formations, including the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Nigerian Army Corps of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and the Nigerian Army Education Corps.
At the conclusion of the march-past, Vice President Shettima presented awards to military personnel and civilians who had distinguished themselves in various areas.
The celebrations also served as an opportunity for the Army to demonstrate its preparedness for a range of security operations, from counter-insurgency missions to conventional warfare scenarios.
