The affiliation additionally appealed for the institution of a national memorial in honour of fallen personnel whose stays can’t be recovered in recognition of their sacrifices in the direction of restoring peace and stability within the West African sub-region.
The enchantment was made throughout a courtesy go to by a delegation of serving and retired officers of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, led by retired Major General Ohifeme Ejemai, to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, in Abuja.
The ECOMOG Veterans Association, which brings collectively navy personnel who participated within the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group, ECOMOG, operations between 1990 and 2000, stated the proposed initiatives would protect the legacy of the peacekeeping mission and honour those that paid the supreme sacrifice.
It famous that 1000’s of navy personnel from Nigeria and different West African nations participated within the operations, with many shedding their lives whereas others sustained life-altering accidents within the course of obligation.
According to the affiliation, regardless of the importance of ECOMOG’s contributions to regional peace and safety, a lot of the mission’s historical past stays undocumented, elevating issues that invaluable experiences and classes could possibly be misplaced with time.
To tackle this problem, the affiliation stated it had initiated efforts to doc the experiences of ECOMOG veterans by way of analysis, interviews and the publication of first-hand accounts of the operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
It disclosed {that a} group of researchers can be commissioned to interview veterans and document their experiences, whereas the affiliation was additionally supporting veterans who’re writing accounts of their participation within the peacekeeping mission.
The affiliation additional appealed to the Minister of Defence to facilitate the inclusion of the documented historical past of ECOMOG operations within the curricula of navy coaching establishments, saying this may assist future generations of navy personnel be taught from the mission’s successes and challenges.
It additionally disclosed plans to interact the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission on the designation of an annual ECOMOG Reunion and Remembrance Day to have fun the contributions of veterans to regional peacekeeping and honour those that died in service.
On the problem of fallen personnel, the affiliation noticed that some Nigerian troopers who died throughout the operations couldn’t be introduced dwelling for burial as a result of of the prevailing situations on the time and have been as an alternative buried within the theatres of operation.
It subsequently sought the Ministry of Defence’s support in facilitating the restoration and repatriation of their stays, the place doable, for correct navy burial in Nigeria, in accordance with navy traditions and repair laws.
“For fallen personnel whose remains cannot be located or recovered, the association called for the construction of a befitting national memorial to preserve their memory and recognise their ultimate sacrifice.” it stated.
The affiliation stated its broader goal was to immortalise the contributions of ECOMOG veterans, protect the historic document of the operations and be certain that the sacrifices of Nigerian and different West African navy personnel proceed to encourage future generations.
Responding, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, assured the ECOMOG Veterans Association of the Federal Government’s support for its efforts to protect the historical past of ECOMOG operations and honour the sacrifices of Nigerian navy personnel who served in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The Minister additional assured the delegation that their appeals, together with the repatriation of the stays of fallen Nigerian troopers for correct navy burial, the institution of a national memorial for these whose stays can’t be recovered, and the inclusion of ECOMOG historical past in navy coaching curricula, would obtain the mandatory consideration and support.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to working with related authorities and stakeholders in the direction of addressing the requests, recognising that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes must not ever be forgotten and their contributions to regional peace and stability preserved for posterity.
