Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
The Nigerian Army has bade farewell to discharged Master Warrant Officers of the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, at a ceremony held at the institution's conference room, urging them to remain useful to society and uphold the values of the military as they begin life outside active service. The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations at Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Chikadibia Anele, disclosed the development in a post on the Nigerian Army's X handle on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The ceremony was attended by the Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Brigadier General Usman Ahmad, principal staff officers, and heads of departments. Addressing the discharged personnel, Brigadier General Ahmad urged them to maintain peaceful relationships with the communities where they choose to settle and to remain good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army. "Ensure peaceful relationships with the communities in which you choose to settle and remain good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army," he said. The Commandant further encouraged the discharged personnel to continue contributing positively to the protection of the civil populace while engaging in hobbies and extracurricular activities to maintain their fitness. "You should strive to protect the civil populace and achieve a balance by engaging in other hobbies and extracurricular activities to keep yourselves fit, as you no longer have the leisure of going to work every day," he said.
Brigadier General Ahmad, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, thanked the discharged Master Warrant Officers for their service to the country and wished them success in their future endeavours. The ceremony marked the formal end of the officers' active service while recognising their contributions to the institution and the country. The Army did not disclose the number of personnel discharged or provide details about their years of service, ranks beyond Master Warrant Officer, or the circumstances of their discharge. The command's message focused on the transition from military service to civilian life, with Ahmad urging the personnel to maintain the discipline and sense of responsibility associated with their careers. His remarks also highlighted the role former service members can continue to play in supporting peaceful relations within their communities.
Speaking on behalf of the discharged soldiers, the outgoing Regimental Sergeant Major of the institution, Master Warrant Officer Joshua Agwaru, thanked the Commandant for his mentorship and guidance since assuming command of the Depot. "We thank the Commandant for his mentorship and guidance. We assure the Commandant, the institution, and the Army at large that we will always be available when needed to serve in other capacities," Agwaru said. His assurance reflected a recurring theme in Nigerian military retirement ceremonies, where departing personnel express their continued willingness to serve the nation in other capacities even after leaving active service.
Highlights of the ceremony included words of advice from officers, the presentation of souvenirs and gift items by the Commandant, and group photographs. The event underscored the Nigerian Army's tradition of honouring its personnel as they exit active service, a practice that has been observed across various corps and formations throughout 2026. In May, the Nigerian Army Corps of Infantry pulled out 28 senior officers comprising 17 Major-Generals and 11 Brigadier-Generals during a ceremony at the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre in Jaji. In April, the Nigerian Army Signals pulled out 16 retired senior officers at the Nigerian Army School of Signals in Apapa, Lagos. In March, the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport pulled out 18 senior officers after 35 years of meritorious service. And in February, the Nigerian Army Finance Corps held a valedictory parade in Lagos to honour 10 retired senior officers.
The frequency of these ceremonies reflects the scale of the Nigerian Army's personnel transition and the institution's commitment to recognising the service of its members. For the discharged Master Warrant Officers of Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, the farewell ceremony represented both a conclusion and a beginning. The Depot is the institution responsible for the basic training of recruits and the development of soldiers at the earliest stages of their careers. The Master Warrant Officers who departed on Saturday were among the most experienced non-commissioned officers in the Army, having spent decades training, mentoring and leading the soldiers who would go on to serve in various theatres of operation across Nigeria and beyond.
Brigadier General Ahmad's charge to the retirees reflected the Army's expectation that its personnel remain exemplars of discipline and service even after leaving active duty. The instruction to protect the civil populace and to maintain fitness through hobbies and extracurricular activities acknowledged the challenges of transitioning to civilian life, where the structure and purpose provided by military service can be difficult to replace. The emphasis on peaceful relationships with host communities was particularly significant in a country where the Nigerian Army maintains a substantial presence across all geopolitical zones and where civil-military relations are a constant consideration.
The ceremony also served as a reminder of the human dimension of military service. Behind the ranks and files are individuals who have dedicated their working lives to the institution and who now face the prospect of civilian life with its different demands and freedoms. The presentation of souvenirs and the exchange of courtesies between the Commandant and the departing personnel reflected a recognition that the Army's strength depends not only on its operational capabilities but also on the bonds of respect and mutual obligation that connect its serving and retired members.
For the Nigerian Army, the ceremony was one of many such events that will be held across its formations in the coming months. For the discharged Master Warrant Officers, it was a moment of closure and a transition to a new chapter. As Brigadier General Ahmad put it, they should ensure peaceful relationships with the communities in which they choose to settle and remain good ambassadors of the Nigerian Army. The message was simple, but it carried the weight of an institution's expectations for those who have worn its uniform and who will continue to represent it in civilian life.
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