Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Friday said Nigerians have the obligation to pray for the success of the military to defeat Boko Haram, bandits and other aggressors.

“We are going with that trend, and I want to make an appeal to all Nigerians to also pray for the success of the armed forces, and that is the least anybody can do,” Mr Lawan said.

The senator was speaking at the special Jumma’at Prayer held as part of activities lined up to celebrate the 2022 Armed Forces Day Celebration (AFRDC) on January 15.

“I believe that we have that responsibility, in fact, an obligation, that in our official capacities, we are supposed to do that and even in our private capacities, we are supposed to do that and continuously too,” he said.

Mr Lawan assured the armed forces that the national assembly would work with the executive to provide them with the needed platform and equipment.

“In the National Assembly, we believe that we should continue to support the armed forces through appropriation and any legislative intervention that will enhance their performance.”

Mr Lawan reiterated that “we will continue to support the armed forces working with the Executive arm of the government.

“So far, we have done a lot by giving the armed forces special appropriation, through the supplementary budget of 2021 and of course, the 2022 appropriation that Mr President signed last week,” he added.

The Jumma’at prayer would be followed by an Interdenominational Church Service on Sunday across the country, before the main ceremony on January 15 at the National Arcade.

This ceremony will also involve the laying of wreaths by the President and other government functionaries, at the National arcade and other states across the country. 

(NAN)