Nigerian Army Retires 53 Troops Colours

• The Nigerian Army sets up plans to retire  53 colors from it’s troops.

• The colours symbolizes the battles fought by battalions over the years.

• In essence the move to retire the colours is fostered by the assumption that they are worn out and no longer represents the essence of present day security.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Nigerian Army has announced plans to retire 53 Colours, which symbolize the various battles that several units have embarked upon over the years.

Many of these Colours have become torn or worn out and no longer represent the essence of present-day security threats and demands.

 

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, made this announcement on Tuesday while speaking on the Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade 2023, which will be held in Abuja. He explained that a total of 81 units would participate in the parade, with 53 Colours due for retirement, and 28 Colours set to be presented to new Nigerian Army (NA) units.

“Most of the Colours in the NA have been involved in multiple operations in various geopolitical zones of the country, as well as foreign countries, hence deserving retirement and the presentation of new Colours,” Nwachukwu said.

The Colours, which serve as an inspiration for heroic acts of self-sacrifice, bear the campaigns, battle honours and badges granted to the regiment in commemoration of the gallant deeds performed by its members from the time it was raised.

Nwachukwu noted that Colours are usually retired after ten years of service, and that the last Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade for the NA units was conducted in 2007.

Since then, new units have been established and operationalized in line with the increasing operational commitments of the NA, as well as provisions of the extant NA Order of Battle (ORBAT).

“It is against this backdrop and in line with the traditions, customs and ethics of the NA, that Trooping and Presentation of Colours Parade 2023 will be conducted to retire torn or worn out Colours, as well as to present the National and Regimental Colours to the newly established and operationalized NA units,” he said.

The association of the Colours with heroic deeds of the units emblazoned on them has led to the custom of regarding the Colours with veneration.

 

Therefore, it is the desire of combat and combat support units to be presented with National and Regimental Colours in special ceremonial parades with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in attendance.