The Nigerian Army has retired 53 regimental colours used in the order of battle.
The ceremony, held at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Thursday, also witnessed the issuance of colours to 28 newly created units, bringing the number of units in the Nigerian Army to 81.
President Muhammadu Buhari, dressed in military uniform, presided over the ceremony and the presentation of colours.
The event has in attendance members of the National and Executive Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Executive Governors of the States benefitting Units, Service Chiefs, past Chief of Army Staffs, senior military officers, both serving and retired, captains of industries, as well as other important dignitaries.
Since 2007, new units have been established and operationalised in line with the increasing operational commitments of the Nigerian Army, as well as provisions of the extant NA Order of Battle (ORBAT).
In an update on the ceremony on Tuesday, Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement, explained that “historically, the origin of colours dated back to the early days when men fixed their family badge to a pole and held it aloft in the battle for the dual purpose of indicating their position and as a rallying point should the occasion arise. This tradition was sustained by medieval chivalry as armorial bearings were placed on their banners so that these could be seen well above the melee.
“At the beginning of the 16th century, when armies were beginning to adopt a system of regimentation, each Unit was allotted a Colour, a custom which persisted till the present day. In the NA, the first known account of Colours dated back to 1863 when the company designated for Nigeria moved from Gold Coast (now Ghana) to Nigeria with their company’s flag, which represented their Colours or Guidon as they are called by the British.
“However, Colour Presentations in the NA for the first time was in 1922 when the then British monarch, His Majesty, King George V, awarded Colours to each battalion of the Nigerian Regiments, which formed part of the British West African Frontier Forces (WAFF), in recognition of their services.
“The Regiment as a whole was also granted a colour, which has an inscription written in Arabic captioned ‘’Victory is from God Alone’’ and till date, this inscription is being used by the Nigerian Army on the Logo and also on NA officers’ cap badges of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and below as well Non-Commissioned Officers.
“The Colours of a regiment are presented by the heads of state or monarch, prime minister and Commanders-in-Chief of the Country or State, under which the regiment exists. The National and Regimental Colours carried by NA units during parades and ceremonial activities are an important source of identity and pride not only for the units involved but for the NA and the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
“The sight of the Colours creates a feeling of pride in soldiers and ex-soldiers. From ancient history, Colours have served as an inspiration for heroic acts of self-sacrifice and become the symbol of the fighting spirit of a regiment, for they 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.”
