The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the legacy and sacrifices of Nigerian troops who served under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during peacekeeping operations in West Africa.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), gave the assurance when he received a delegation of ECOMOG veterans, led by Major General Ohifeme Ejimai (rtd.), in Abuja.
The delegation visited the minister to brief him on the group’s activities and ongoing initiatives aimed at preserving the history and contributions of ECOMOG veterans.
Musa acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria committed to ECOMOG operations, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where Nigerian troops played critical roles in restoring peace and stability.
He assured the veterans that personnel who paid the supreme price during the peacekeeping missions would not be forgotten, adding that efforts to document outstanding records, casualties and historical assets would be completed to ensure their preservation for future generations.
The minister stressed the importance of safeguarding the sacrifices of Nigerian troops who risked and lost their lives in the service of regional peace and security.
Earlier, Ejimai briefed the minister on the condition of surviving Nigerian ECOMOG veterans, noting their readiness to continue contributing to national development and security.
He called on the Ministry of Defence to address existing gaps in the documentation of ECOMOG’s activities and personnel.
The retired general also urged the Federal Government to consider establishing a dedicated remembrance day in honour of the hundreds of Nigerian troops who died during the operations to secure peace and stability in West Africa.
ECOMOG was established in 1990 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force.
Led significantly by Nigeria, the force played a major role in responding to regional conflicts, protecting civilian populations and supporting efforts to restore constitutional order in West Africa.
