• Buhari to grace occasion
Paul Obi in Abuja
As Nigeria celebrates the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said all roads and routes leading to the Federal Secretariat would be closed to enable the military carry out some rehearsals.
The Director of Information, Defence Headquarters, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said in a statement that the closure has become imminent in order to have a peaceful celebration of the day.
He said: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, especially the motorists plying the Federal Secretarial Road, through Eagle Square, that there would be temporary closures of the road daily from 11 to 15 January 2017.
“This action becomes necessary to enable hitch-free military rehearsals and subsequent event of Armed Forces Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony at the National Arcade.
“During the period, alternative routes would be made available for motorists. In this case, diversions would be guided and supervised by security and relevant uniformed personnel to avoid logjam and unnecessary obstruction.”
According to Abubakar, “While regretting the temporary disruption of normal traffic flow on the road, the DHQ wishes to state that the rehearsals would only take place in the morning hours of the affected days and are billed to last for a short period daily.
“The presence of the Armed Forces and other security agencies are for that purpose. Therefore, public should not panic.
The grand finale of the Armed Force Remembrance Day celebration activities will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2017 where the President Buhari, will lead other top government functionaries, including Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to lay wreaths, at the National Arcade, Opposite Eagle Square, Abuja
