The Ministry of Defence, through its Steering Committee on Social Safety NET, on Saturday evening, flagged off enrollment of veterans for palliatives to mitigate the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, who was represented by a Director of Joint Service Forces, Jude Alozie, stated that the initiative was to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.
“Our veterans deserve the best they can get”, Alozie stated.
This, he said is the first time the gesture is happening, assuring that it will continue like that.
Christopher Musa, represented by the Commander 15 Brigade Ohafia, Caius Baushe, described the program as an economic one and urged all veterans to make sure they are captured as it is open to all.
Speaking during the occasion, the National Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Abdumalik Jibril said the essence of the palliatives was to remove the effect of the controversial Fuel Subsidy and its attendant economic and social hardship on veterans, widows, orphans, and dependants of Nigeria’s fallen heroes and caregivers.
He said, “His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, in keeping with his Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigeria and Nigerians, and sequel to the inevitable decision to remove the controversial Fuel Subsidy and its attendant economic and social hardship on the citizens, decided to provide palliatives to 15 million households to alleviate their sufferings.
“Consequently, HE the President directed the HNOHA and PA to extend their humanitarian gesture to members of the veterans community under the umbrella of the Nigeria Legion.
“This gesture is the first of its kind under any government in recent times.
“The Ministry of Defence Steering Committee on Social Safety NET in collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and partnership with Abia State Government chose to flag off the enrollment of veterans, widows, orphans, and dependants of our fallen heroes and caregivers.
“The choice to flag off the all-important programme is no doubt, a decision in the right direction.
“We are here this evening to identify with our veterans, widows, orphans of our fallen heroes, and caregivers as well as thank the state government in collaboration with us for making the event a great success.
“The Armed Forces Remembrance Day for 2024 will be launched by HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 25th of October, 2023 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“May I therefore seize this opportunity to continue to extend the support and cooperation of the good people of Abia State through HE Gov. Alex Otti to continue appreciating the unquantifiable sacrifices made and still making by your sons and daughters for the unity of this country by only not donating generously during the Emblem Appeal Launch but continue to support your sons and daughters as veterans residing and still contributing to the systematic development of the state”.
Earlier, the Abia State chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Ambrose Nnabugwu said the enrollment was aimed at mitigating the suffering occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
Nnabugwu stated, “We in Abia appreciated Tinubu, and the Honourable Minister who ensured that veterans have a special package, the National Chairman of Nigeria Legion for his input, stating, “by this. have written their names in the sands of time”.
He thanked the federal government for the choice of the state for the flag off of the programme.
He also thanked the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti for putting things in place to make Abia safe and inhabitable by the people.
