The Federal Government has commenced efforts to complete records of Nigerian military personnel and other individuals who lost their lives, as well as assets lost during the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), said the exercise was aimed at preserving the history, sacrifices and contributions of Nigerians who participated in the regional peacekeeping missions.
Musa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honouring the legacy of ECOMOG veterans and ensuring that the contributions of personnel who paid the ultimate price in the operations were properly documented for future generations.
The minister made this known while receiving a delegation of ECOMOG veterans led by Major General Ohifeme Ejimai (rtd) at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant on Media to the minister, the delegation visited to brief him on the group’s activities and ongoing initiatives.
Musa acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria committed to the ECOMOG missions, particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, where Nigerian troops played important roles in efforts to restore peace and stability.
He assured the veterans that efforts to document outstanding records, casualties and historical assets would be completed to ensure the proper preservation of the country’s military history.
The minister stressed that the sacrifices made by Nigerian personnel during the operations would not be forgotten, adding that preserving their contributions remained important to the nation’s history and national identity.
Earlier, Ejimai provided an update on the welfare and status of surviving Nigerian ECOMOG veterans, noting their willingness to continue contributing to national development and security.
He called on the Ministry of Defence to address existing gaps in the documentation of the operations and the personnel involved.
The retired general also urged the Federal Government to consider establishing a dedicated remembrance day to honour the hundreds of Nigerian troops who died during the missions.
He said such recognition would provide an opportunity for the country to commemorate the fallen personnel and acknowledge their contributions to peace and security across West Africa.
ECOMOG was established in 1990 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force. It was deployed to conflict-affected countries, including Liberia and Sierra Leone, as part of efforts to address armed conflicts and restore stability.
The Federal Government’s documentation initiative is expected to strengthen efforts to preserve the history of Nigeria’s participation in the operations and recognise the sacrifices of military personnel who served under the regional force.