The Federal Government on Friday pledged to further empower the Nigerian Armed Forces to confront the country’s lingering security challenges.
Vice President Kashim Shettima restated the determination of President Bola Tinubu’s administration while speaking at a special Jumma’a Prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja, ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
January 15 is annually observed by the Federal Government to honour the Armed Forces of Nigeria. The military recently rebranded the occasion from Armed Forces Remembrance Day to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day, to underscore its dual focus on recognising serving personnel and remembering fallen heroes.
Addressing worshippers, Shettima paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting citizens and their property, describing their sacrifices as the foundation of national unity and stability.
The government’s renewed commitment to security comes amid comments by United States President Donald Trump, who warned of possible additional US air strikes if what he described as attacks on Christians in Nigeria persist.
Trump, according to Reuters, made the remarks during an interview with the New York Times while responding to questions about a US military strike carried out on Christmas Day in Nigeria.
The US military said the operation targeted Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria and was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government. Nigerian authorities described the action as a “joint operation” against “terrorists,” stressing that it was “nothing to do with a particular religion.”
“I’d love to make it a one-time strike … But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” Trump was quoted as saying.
When reminded that extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State had killed more Muslims than Christians, Trump replied, “I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians.”
In late October, Trump had warned that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria and suggested possible US military intervention, accusing Nigerian authorities of failing to halt violence against Christian communities.
The Federal Government has consistently rejected claims of systematic persecution of Christians, maintaining that Nigeria’s security crisis affects citizens across religious lines, with militants killing both Muslims and Christians.
What you should know
The Federal Government’s statement signals an effort to reassure Nigerians and the international community of its resolve to address insecurity through stronger military capacity.
The comments come at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump links Nigeria’s security situation to religious violence and threatens further military action. While Nigeria acknowledges long-standing insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping challenges, it firmly disputes claims of targeted religious persecution.
The government continues to stress that extremist violence cuts across faiths and that recent joint operations with foreign partners are aimed solely at neutralising terrorist threats, not advancing religious or political agendas.
